Achieving Greater Safety and

Environmental Protection in
Road Transport
On the Road to Sustainable Mobility

JAPAN AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION, Inc.

 Foreword
Automobiles play an essential role in sustaining economic
activities around the world and in enhancing people’s lives.
Japanese automakers therefore continuously strive to meet
society’s evolving requirements with respect to automotive
performance.
Greater safety and environmental protection in road transport
are pivotal issues in society’s quest for sustainable mobility,
and Japan’s automakers are determined to meet the
challenges confronting them in these areas. As regards
safety, Japanese automakers are—individually and through
the activities of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers
Association, Inc. (JAMA) which they established in 1967
Automobiles in Society
Automobiles and the Automotive Industry:
A Socioeconomic Perspective
An Economic Pillar, Impacting Lives and Livelihoods
Auto manufacturing and its vast array of related industries—
including the materials and parts supply industries and the
automotive sales and services industries—currently employ 5.32
million people, or 8.5% of Japan’s working population (Fig. 1).
Fig. 1 Employment in the Auto Manufacturing and
Related Industries (Number of employees)
Automobile Production 787,000
Automobile manufacturing (including motorcycles) 166,000
Auto parts & accessories manufacturing 605,000

—focusing not only on the introduction of advanced vehicle Auto body & trailer manufacturing 16,000

Road Transport 2,810,000

safety technologies, but also on raising public awareness of Automotive-related Road freight transport 1,793,000
the role of all road users in achieving greater road safety. workforce: Road passenger transport 622,000

Their initiatives in this area also serve the Japanese 5.32 million (8.5%) Road transport-related services 351,000
Vehicle rental services 44,000
government’s stated goal of making Japan’s roads the
safest in the world. Automotive Fuel/ 409,000
Insurance/Recycling
Automotive fuel retailing 394,000

With respect to environmental protection and specifically Auto damage insurance 11,000

Total Automobile recycling 4,000

the priority issue of climate change, Japan’s automakers are workforce
in Japan Materials & Equipment Supply 229,000
working hard to supply highly fuel-efficient vehicles and 62.82 million
Electrical machinery & equipment 7,000
(100%)
implement other measures promoting CO2 reduction in the Non-ferrous metals 9,000

road transport sector to help combat global warming. Iron & steel 54,000
Metal products 23,000
Chemicals (including paints), textiles & petroleum 20,000
This pamphlet brings readers up to date on the strategies Plastics, rubber & glass 59,000

and measures adopted domestically by Japan’s automakers Electronic parts & equipment
Manufacturing machinery
34,000
23,000
to increase road safety and further reduce the impact of
Sales & Services 1,085,000
automobiles on the environment, on the road to sustainable
Automobile retailing (including motorcycles, 637,000
mobility. used vehicles, auto parts & accessories)
Automobile wholesaling (including motorcycles,
used vehicles, finished/used parts & accessories) 176,000

Source: JAMA Automobile servicing 272,000

Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association

November 2011
Fig. 2 Shipments of Major Manufacturing Sectors
in Value Terms (2009) (x 1 trillion yen)

General
Machinery
28.9 (10.9%)

Electrical
Other
Machinery &
89.5
Equipment
（33.7%）
Total 40.1 (15.1%)
265.3
（100%）

  Automotive
40.5
(15.3%) Transport
Metal Products Equipment
12.4 47.2
(4.7%) Chemicals (17.8%)
24.3
(9.2%)
Non-Ferrous
Metals
6.9 (2.6%) Iron & Steel
16.0 (6.0%)
Breakdown of Automotive Shipments:
Automobiles (including motorcycles) .......... 16.6
Auto bodies & trailers ................................... 0.4
Auto parts & accessories ............................ 23.5 Source: JAMA

1
 In 2009 automotive shipments (both domestic and export Responding to the Need for Assisted Mobility
shipments, including motorcycles and parts) in value terms Over its more than century-long existence, the automobile has
totalled 40.5 trillion yen, accounting for 15.3% of the total value of continuously evolved in response to users’ needs and expectations.
Japan’s manufacturing shipments that year (Fig. 2). Japan in recent years has seen an increased need for
assisted-mobility vehicles as a means to encourage the active
Vehicle Production participation in society of persons with otherwise limited mobility,
During most of the last decade, total domestic production of including not only the physically disabled but also, in a rapidly
passenger cars, trucks, and buses exceeded 10 million units aging population, the elderly.
annually. Japanese automakers have therefore introduced innovative
In 2009, however, Japan’s vehicle production plummeted to 7.94 technologies, including IT and active safety technologies, to
million units in the wake of a global economic slump. In 2010, enhance the convenience of these vehicles and thereby provide
although still below the 10-million level, production volume their users with optimal-quality mobility.
rebounded by 21.4% to 9.63 million units, recording the first
year-on-year gain in three years.
Fig. 5 Types of Assisted-Mobility Vehicles
Vehicle Vehicle Feature Description
Type
Fig.3 Trends in Motor Vehicle Production
Revolving seats Front and rear seats can be rotated
(excluding motorcycles) Revolving sliding to the exterior or rotated and slid
(x 1 million units) seats out to the exterior. Helpful for
14 those who have a little difficulty in
boarding/exiting.
Elevator seat Equipped with a seat that, once rotated to the

Nursing care
12
Total exterior, can be lowered to adjustable positions for
easy boarding/exiting. Assists those who have
10 considerable difficulty in boarding/exiting and those
Passenger Cars who need to move to the seat from a wheelchair.

8 Wheelchair- Equipped with an electrically-

accessible operated ramp that allows board-
(with ramp) ing/deboarding while remaining
6 seated in a wheelchair.

Drive-assist system Equipped with drive-assist devices

Self-operating

4 so that it can be driven by the

Trucks & Buses physically disabled.

2
Stretcher-bearing A passenger can be boarded into/de-
boarded from this vehicle while in a
0 fully reclined position. For professional
1970 75 80 85 90 95 2000 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
use at medical/nursing care facilities.
(Year)
Source: JAMA Low-floor bus A “non-step” bus equipped with an electric
lift allowing boarding/deboarding while
Other

seated in a wheelchair. Their use in local

The Mainstay of Goods Distribution intra-community transport is being promoted.
The role of motor vehicles in freight transport in Japan expands Assisted-mobility Equipped with revolving seats.
yearly. Road transport has a 63.9% share of total domestic freight taxi Some taxis are wheelchair-
accessible.
transport, well ahead of any other segment of the transport sector
(Fig. 4). Almost 100% of goods considered daily household
necessities—including basic foodstuffs, beverages, fisheries Source: JAMA

products, fruits and vegetables, textiles and clothing, and other

products for everyday use—are transported by motor vehicle.
Locally, interregionally and nationwide, the role of motor vehicles
in both goods distribution and passenger transport is thus a Achieving Sustainable Mobility:
critical one. The Road Ahead
Automobiles are indispensable to modern society and its
Fig. 4 Trends in Domestic Freight Transport Volumes, by Mode everyday functioning, whether in the conduct of economic
(x 100 million tons/km)
6,000
activities or in other spheres. Historically, however, expanding
Maritime
motorization has been followed by the unacceptable consequences
of swiftly rising rates of road accident occurrence and an
5,000 Rail
increasingly adverse impact on the environment.
Road
Sustainability in road transport will therefore not be achieved in
Air
4,000 the future without taking the necessary measures to maximize
road safety and minimize the burden posed by automobiles on the
3,000 environment. Meeting those goals will require broad-ranging
measures and concerted efforts on the part of all the stakeholders
2,000 concerned, including the automotive and other relevant industries,
governments, and vehicle users themselves.
1,000

0
1965 1975 1985 1995 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 (Year)
Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

2
 Achieving Greater Road Safety
-Automakers are continuously advancing the development and onboard installation of vehicle safety features.
-JAMA conducts, in cooperation with other organizations, “hands-on” training sessions throughout Japan to
promote safe driving among vehicle users of all ages.
-JAMA has also developed its own road safety educational materials targeting elderly and young drivers.
-Every spring and autumn, road safety public awareness campaigns are conducted by JAMA to coincide with
the government’s own nationwide traffic safety campaigns.

The National Context Overview of the Japanese Automobile

Road Fatalities Continue to Decline
In 2010 road fatalities in Japan totalled 4,863 (in notable
contrast to the peak total of 16,765 fatalities recorded in 1970),
marking the tenth straight year of decline and maintaining, for
the second consecutive year, a level below 5,000, not seen since
1952. Road accidents and injuries (the latter having dropped
below one million in 2008 for the first time in a decade), which
reached historic highs in 2004, decreased as well, for the sixth
consecutive year (Fig. 6).
Also in 2010 there was a continued surge in the number of
“senior” (aged 65 or older) drivers, reflecting Japan’s rapidly
graying society. Meanwhile, the share of elderly persons in total
road fatalities rose to an alarming 50.4%, representing a road
fatality rate 3.6 times higher for seniors than for the total
population.
Objective: The World’s Safest Roads
Aiming to make Japan’s roads the safest in the world, the
Japanese government introduced in 2003 its 8th Basic Plan for
Road Safety, applicable from 2006 through 2010. The plan’s
mid-term goal of reducing annual road fatalities to fewer than
5,500 by 2010 was achieved early, in 2008. The current 9th
Basic Plan for Road Safety (2011-2015) calls for a further
reduction in annual road fatalities to fewer than 3,000 by 2015,
with a view to ultimately achieving zero fatalities in road
transport.
In the belief that not only fatalities but all types of road
accidents must be significantly reduced in order to build a
sustainable society that will continue to benefit from the use of
automobiles, JAMA has recommended to the government
comprehensive safety-promotion measures related to road
users, motor vehicles, road infrastructure, and ITS (Intelligent
Transport Systems) technologies.
Industry’s Road Safety Activities
Road Accident Causation and Prevention
Road safety involves the interrelationship of three factors: road
users, vehicles, and road infrastructure. Research has indicated
that human error is directly or indirectly involved in over 90% of
road accidents (Fig. 7).
Greater road safety therefore requires that progress be made in
all three areas, on the basis of comprehensive accident causation
analysis. Accordingly, those three factors are the focus of JAMA’s
and its members’ road safety activities, which are summarized as
follows:
- Activities targeting road users include public awareness-raising
campaigns and the development and implementation of road
safety educational programs;
- Activities targeting road vehicles include the introduction of
advanced vehicle safety technologies, in terms of both active
safety (collision avoidance) and passive safety (injury mitigation);
- Activities targeting road infrastructure include petitions and
proposals to the government and related agencies calling for
specific improvements in Japan’s road infrastructure.
JAMA’s Eight Priority Areas of Focus
for Greater Road Safety
In 2004 JAMA pledged its support of the government’s goals
for improved road safety (see above) and identified eight key
areas of effort for the Japanese automobile industry in the
ensuing decade. These priority areas are:
(1) Accidents involving pedestrians or cyclists; (2) Special
measures for the elderly; (3) Greater use of seatbelts; (4) Delays
in driver recognition and incorrect vehicle control; (5) Accidents
occurring at twilight/night; (6) Accidents occurring at intersections;
(7) Collisions with stationary objects; and (8) Vehicle compatibility.
Note: Advancing vehicle compatibility involves improving the safety performance of a vehicle
in the event of a crash with another vehicle, with a particular focus on reducing the ability of
larger vehicles to cause damage to smaller vehicles in a collision. Greater compatibility is
achieved through improvements to vehicle body structure aimed at minimizing occupant injury.

Fig. 6 Road Accidents/Injuries/Fatalities Fig. 7 Road Accidents: Causal Factors &

   Their Share of Involvement (%)
(No. of persons) (No. of persons/No. of accidents)
50,000 1,400,000
Road Users
Injuries (no. of persons) 94.6％
Accidents (no. of accidents)
Fatalities (no. of persons) 1,155,697 1,156,633 1,200,000
-Insufficient driving skills
40,000 -Carelessness, distraction
-Disregard of traffic rules
981,096 1,000,000
922,677 931,934 933,828

896,208
30,000 790,295
761,789 800,000
718,080
681,346
643,097 725,773
622,467
598,719
552,788 600,000
20,000
16,765 472,938 467,677

400,000
10,792 11,227
10,679
10,000 8,760 9,261 9,066

6,871 Vehicles Road Infrastructure

200,000 0.2％ 5.2％
4,863

-Inadequate ease of steering -Hazardous road surface conditions

-Inadequate stability control -Inadequate safety structures (guardrails, etc.)
0 0 -Illegal tampering -Inadequate traffic signs and signals
1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 (Year)
Source: National Police Agency Source: Institute for Traffic Accident Research and Data Analysis (ITARDA)

3
 Road Safety Activities to Date In view of Japan’s imminent practical introduction of two road-
■ Expanding the Installation of In-Vehicle Safety Features to-vehicle, intelligent communication-based driver support systems,
JAMA has petitioned the government to prioritize the installation of
Japan’s automakers are equipping more and more of their
the necessary roadside equipment on the basis of site-specific
vehicles with advanced safety features to help prevent accidents
accident occurrence rates.
from happening (active safety) and to increase occupant
protection when collisions are unavoidable (passive safety).
In parallel with the expanded installation of onboard safety ■ Promoting Greater Road Safety Awareness
equipment, JAMA and its members are engaged on a continuous •Through public awareness-raising campaigns
basis in real-world accident analysis, cutting-edge accident Every spring and autumn, the Japanese government launches a
simulation studies, and the advancement of test methods for national traffic safety campaign in cooperation with citizens’
safety evaluation. groups and industry organizations. Supporting and supplementing
this activity, JAMA conducts its own semi-annual campaigns to
raise public awareness about road safety, focusing on, for
Fig. 8 Vehicle Safety Features Introduced in Recent Years
example, reminding all road users—drivers, riders, and pedestrians
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
●Inter-vehicle distance warning
—of the vital importance of Safe-driving training for “seniors”:
●Adaptive cruise control （●With low-speed following mode） （●Full-range） both front and rear seatbelt Negotiating a wet, slippery road surface
●Lane-keeping assist use, correct helmet use, and
●Blind-corner monitoring paying special heed to elderly
Active safety

●Night vision monitoring

pedestrians.
●Navigator-based gearshift control (ATs only)
●Adaptive front-lighting system (AFS) •Through nationwide driver
●Park assist education programs
●Collision-mitigation braking system (pre-crash safety)
A number of organizations in-
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 cluding JAMA and the Japan Automobile Federation jointly
●Active head restraints conduct educational programs targeting drivers of all ages and, in
●Curtain airbags a format designed expressly for that purpose, senior drivers
●Pedestrian protection vehicle design
specifically. These programs feature one-day, hands-on training
●ISOFIX anchorages (for child safety seats)
Passive safety

●Advanced compatibility vehicle structure sessions held across Japan to heighten awareness of safe driving
●Rollover curtain airbags practices. Participants in those sessions are increasingly being
●Knee airbags given the opportunity to drive cars equipped with advanced safety
●Pre-crash seatbelts features such as anti-skidding electronic stability control.
Automatic pop-up hood●
Motorcycle airbags●
■ Developing & Disseminating Original Road Safety Educational
Source: JAMA Materials
•A refresher course for elderly drivers
Table 1 Safety Feature Onboard Installation Status Developed by JAMA as a means to promote, among elderly
Installation Status drivers, continued enjoyment of automobile use and the benefits
Safety Feature In no. of In % In vehicle In %
models (see Note 2) (see Note 3) units (see Note 3) of independent mobility, this study program examines issues
Anti-lock braking system (ABS) 191 （167） 98.5 3,851,786 95.1 related to safe driving and provides information and tips on safe
Brake assist 170 （158） 87.6 3,716,284 91.8
Unfastened seatbelt warning (driver’s seat) 191 （191） 98.5 4,049,410 100.0
driving practices.
Unfastened seatbelt warning (front passenger’s seat) 61 （62） 31.4 1,420,625 35.1
High-intensity discharge headlamps 150 （58） 77.3 1,764,517 43.6 •“Safety Action 21” educational materials for teenagers
Adaptive front-lighting system (AFS) 44 （18） 22.7 223,932 5.5 JAMA targeted the youngest segment of the driving population in
Back-up monitoring (rear obstacle detection) 109 （21） 56.2 521,283 12.9
Vehicle perimeter monitoring 37 （6） 19.1 122,156 3.0
developing this set of road safety educational materials, aimed at
Vehicle perimeter obstacle warning 33 （4） 17.0 186,141 4.6 prospective license holders in an effort to curb the high rate of
Blind-corner monitoring 18 （2） 9.3 81,424 2.0
Night vision monitoring 4 （0） 2.1 1,279 0.0
accident occurrence in this demographic. JAMA hopes that these
Curve detection 24 （1） 12.4 174,736 4.3 materials will increasingly be adopted by high schools nationwide.
Tire pressure monitoring 7 （5） 3.6 83,881 2.1 Note: Materials (in Japanese only) can be downloaded free of charge from the JAMA Web
Active safety

Driver inattention warning 26 （1） 13.4 185,593 4.6 site by accessing, for the refresher course, www.jama.or.jp/safe/safety_elderly/index.html
Inter-vehicle distance warning 43 （1） 22.2 41,727 1.0 and, for “Safety Action 21” materials, www.jama.or.jp/safe/safety/index.html.
Lane deviation warning 21 （0） 10.8 23,882 0.6
Rear collision warning-equipped headrest control 8 （0） 4.1 3,599 0.1
Collision-mitigation braking system (pre-crash safety)
Adaptive cruise control
47
45
（2） 24.2
（2） 23.2
47,882
38,843
1.2
1.0
The Need for Road Infrastructure Development
Adaptive cruise control with low-speed following mode
Full-range adaptive cruise control
6
9
（0）
（0）
3.1
4.6
12,877
17,665
0.3
0.4
Improvements in road infrastructure are a key factor in reducing
Lane-keeping assist 17 （0） 8.8 10,040 0.3 accident occurrence. To upgrade road and traffic management
Back-up monitoring (parking assistance) 18 （0） 9.3 39,164 1.0 infrastructure nationwide, JAMA has appealed to the government
Navigator-based gearshift control 29 （8） 14.9 79,037 2.0
Pre-crash seatbelts 39 （5） 20.1 28,623 0.7
to implement the following measures: a) Construction of disaster-
Electronic stability control 117 （55） 60.3 1,010,588 25.0 resistant road networks (including alternative-route networks)
Traction control with ABS 112 （54） 57.7 985,581 24.3
Navigator-based stop sign alert with brake assist 11 （6） 5.7 119,844 3.0
providing protection against landslides and earthquakes, and the
Rearward-approaching-vehicle warning 3 （1） 1.5 1,377 0.0 replacement of roadside utility poles with underground utility
Side airbags 130 （52） 67.0 1,086,455 26.8
tunnels servicing municipal electrical, water and gas supply needs;
Passive safety

Curtain airbags 131 （49） 67.5 988,676 24.4

Active head restraints 117 （112） 60.3 2,502,817 61.8 b) Introduction of more conspicuous traffic signals and signage,
ISOFIX anchorages (for child safety seats) 144 （126） 74.2 3,255,095 80.4 ITS-based driver support systems, and comprehensive community
Three-point seatbelt for rear center seat* 81 （71） 50.9 1,091,546 36.7
Total                        194      4,049,894
zoning initiatives (to separate commercial from residential traffic);
Notes: 1. Figures are for passenger cars produced in 2010 for the domestic market. 2. “In no.
c) For more efficient road transport with reduced impact on the
of models” indicates the number of models in which the safety feature is installed as standard or environment, the expansion of bypass networks around large
optional equipment. Figures in parentheses indicate the number of models in which the safety
feature is standard equipment. 3. “In %” means as a percentage of the total number of
cities and promotion of the greater use of expressways and
models/units produced. 4. Passenger cars here include minicars. ITS-based traffic management systems; and d) Improved road
*In 2010 a total of 159 passenger car models (2,970,375 vehicle units) featured a rear center
seat. Minicars do not feature a rear center seat. Source: JAMA
maintenance for longer service life.

4
 Addressing Climate Change
-CO2 emissions in Japan’s transport sector dropped to 230 million tons in 2009, largely surpassing its Kyoto Protocol-
related 2010 CO2 reduction projection.
-In 2010 the average fuel efficiency of new gasoline-powered passenger cars in Japan reached 18.7 km/ℓ, a significant
gain over the 14.4 km/ℓ targeted for that year.
-Japanese automakers are aiming to increase the supply of alternative-energy/next-generation vehicles to the domestic market.
-Japanese auto and auto-body manufacturers are targeting, for 2008-2012, a voluntary 25% reduction in CO2 emissions
from their production plants compared to the 1990 level.
-JAMA and its member automakers are proactively engaged in the global road transport sector’s activities targeting CO2 reduction.

formulated in 2007 (Table 2; buses not included). More stringent

The CO2 Challenge for Automakers fuel efficiency targets are in the works for 2020. JAMA member
manufacturers are working hard to ensure compliance through both
Increasing Vehicle Fuel Efficiency the supply of conventional vehicles with even higher fuel efficiency
■ Early Compliance with the 2010 Targets and an expanded share of alternative-energy/next-generation
JAMA member automakers, for the most part, achieved compliance vehicles.
with Japan’s 2010 fuel efficiency targets well ahead of schedule. In Table 2 Japan’s 2015 Fuel Efficiency Targets
2010, 96.3% of their domestically-sold new gasoline-powered
Vehicle Type Increase (%) Target Value (Average)
passenger cars (≤2.5 tons) met the relevant 2010 target (Fig. 9). Passenger cars Up 23.5% from 2004 performance 16.8 km/ℓ
Trucks, GVW≤3.5t Up 12.6% from 2004 performance 15.2 km/ℓ
Fig. 9 Trends in Domestic New Passenger Car Compliance Trucks, GVW>3.5t Up 12.2% from 2002 performance 7.09 km/ℓ
Compliance with the 2010 Fuel Efficiency Target
rate （%） Note: Fuel efficiency here is JC08 test cycle-measured (passenger cars, trucks≤3.5t) and
JE05 test cycle-measured (trucks>3.5t); targets were established assuming the same
100 shipment volume ratios by vehicle weight category for 2015 as those recorded in 2004 and
89.6 90.7 in 2002, respectively.
85.0 86.0 87.5 95.7 96.3
81.1 Sources: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
80
72.4 Promoting the Wider Use of Alternative-Energy/Next-
60
53.3
Generation Vehicles
40 The use of alternative-energy/next-generation vehicles is becoming
35.5 an increasingly significant factor in Japan’s reduction of CO2
24.4 emissions in its road transport sector. In view of their outstanding
20
14.7
environmental performance and steadily growing demand, Japanese
11.3
0 automakers are aiming to expand the supply of these vehicles to the
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 (Year) domestic market. Meanwhile, the government is actively promoting
Source: JAMA
their wider use through tax incentives. At present there are nearly
1,030,000 alternative-energy/next-generation vehicles in use in
The average certified fuel efficiency of new gasoline-powered Japan, most of which are hybrids (Fig. 11).
passenger cars in Japan has improved yearly, reaching 18.7 km/ℓ
Notes: 1. Alternative-energy/next-generation vehicles include hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric,
in 2010 (Fig. 10) and thus largely surpassing their 2010 target of fuel cell, natural gas, clean diesel, flex-fuel and hydrogen vehicles. 2. Summary information
14.4 km/ℓ. on the environmental performance of these vehicles is available on JAMA’s Web site at
www.jama.or.jp/eco/eco_car/info/index.html.

Fig. 10 Trends in Average Fuel Efficiency of Domestic

Fig. 11 Status of Alternative-Energy/Next-Generation
（km/ℓ）
Gasoline-Powered Passenger Cars
19 18.7 Vehicle Use in Japan
18.1 (No. of vehicles in use)
18
1,080,000
17 16.9 Total: 1,029,713
Average certified fuel 1,040,000 Clean diesel vehicles 5,080
efficiency of new passenger cars 16.0 16.2
16 1,000,000 Natural gas vehicles 38,861
15.4 15.5
15.1 1,941
15 14.9 2010 target 960,000 Electric vehicles
14.3 920,000 Hybrid vehicles
14
13.8 14.7 14.4*
13.5 14.4 880,000
13.1 14.1
13.7 13.8
13 12.7 12.7 12.6 13.5 840,000
12.9 13.1 13.3 Average certified fuel efficiency of
12.6 12.7 12.8 in-use passenger cars
12 12.5 12.4 12.6 800,000

11 760,000
10.2 720,000
9.9 10.0
10 9.5 9.6 9.7
9.2 9.2 9.4 9.4 680,000
9.1 9.0 9.1 9.1 9.2
9 Average on-road fuel efficiency of
in-use passenger cars 640,000
8 600,000 575,940
1995 2000 2005 2010 (Year)
560,000
* Calculated assuming, for 2010, the same shipment volume ratios for 520,000
the different vehicle weight categories as those recorded in 2009. 463,898
480,000
Source: JAMA 983,831
440,000
400,000 375,593
■ New Fuel Efficiency Targets for 2015 360,000
320,000
The automakers’ early compliance with 2010 fuel efficiency 284,896
280,000
targets has made a significant contribution to CO2 reduction in 240,000 221,908

Japan’s transport sector, with CO2 emissions in 2009 largely 200,000

154,210
160,000
surpassing the sector’s Kyoto Protocol-related 2010 CO2 reduction 108,945
120,000 87,835
projection (Fig. 13). 80,000 59,528
44,071
Fuel efficiency targets for heavy-duty vehicles (trucks and buses 40,000
2,731 3,273 7,498
27,600

0
over 3.5 tons)—the first in the world—were introduced in Japan 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 (Year)
in 2006, for enforcement in 2015; for passenger cars and trucks Source: JAMA

weighing 3.5 tons or less, fuel efficiency targets for 2015 were
5
 CO2 Reduction in Road Transport:
Reducing CO2 Emissions in Production Processes
A Sectorwide Challenge
Japan’s auto and auto-body manufacturers are reducing energy Road Transport CO2 Reduction Requires Initiatives in
consumption and otherwise cutting CO2 emissions at their
Four Areas
production plants in order to conserve resources and help curb
global warming. Their combined 2008-2012 target of 6.32 million CO2 reduction in road transport, both nationally and globally,
tons of CO2 annually—down 25% from the 1990 level—has requires measures to (1) increase vehicle fuel efficiency, (2)
already been surpassed, largely as a result of the recent economic diversify fuel supply, (3) improve traffic flow (i.e., reduce
downturn (Fig. 12). congestion), and (4) use motor vehicles more efficiently,
involving the cooperative efforts of vehicle manufacturers, fuel/
Fig. 12 Reductions in Production Plant-Generated energy providers, government, and vehicle users.
CO2 Emissions
(x 1 million tons CO2) (x 1,000 tons CO2 per 1 trillion yen)
Increased
10
vehicle fuel
8.44 CO2 emissions/Production value
efficiency
8 500
6.80
6.43 6.74
6.80 6.72 6.82 6.59 6.57
6.32 More
6 442 400 Improved efficient use
5.08 traffic flow of vehicles
4.51 4.67
4 300
256 Diversified
automotive
2 200
fuel supply
0 100
1990 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010････
 2008-2012
Note: CO2 reductions achieved jointly by JAMA and JABIA
average JAMA recommends that the road transport sector worldwide
member companies since 2008. (Revised target)
(JABIA: Japan Auto-Body Industries Association) Source: JAMA
implement the following specific measures in the four areas
concerned.
The Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan
■ Measures to increase vehicle fuel efficiency
and CO2 Reduction in Japan’s Transport Sector
•Fuel efficiency standards for passenger cars and trucks should
The enforcement of the Kyoto Protocol in 2005 prompted the be adopted by all countries/regions, taking into account local
Japanese government to formulate, in the same year, its Kyoto conditions and circumstances.
Protocol Target Achievement Plan to help the country meet its •Lighter vehicles with consequently higher fuel efficiency should
goal of reducing total CO2 emissions to 6% below the 1990 level be increasingly introduced into the market.
by 2008-2012. The plan prescribed individual CO2 reduction •Next-generation vehicles that run on alternative energies should
targets and specific reduction measures for Japan’s industrial, progressively replace conventional vehicles in the interest of
consumer, transport and other major sectors. achieving sustainable energy use.
Of Japan’s total CO 2 emissions, the transportation sector •Green vehicle purchasing incentives should be implemented by
accounts for roughly 20%, of which 90% are auto-emitted— governments to encourage the purchase of highly fuel-efficient
making CO2 reduction in road transport a priority concern. With and low-emission vehicles and thereby accelerate the replace-
steadily declining CO2 emissions since 2001, the transport ment of the vehicle fleet.
sector’s original target of an annual 250 million tons of CO2
emissions by 2010 was consequently revised in March 2008 to a
■ Measures to diversify automotive fuel supply
more challenging projection of 240-243 million tons (Fig. 13).
In fact, Japan’s transport sector emitted a total of 230 million •The widespread use of low-carbon fuels and sources of energy,
tons of CO2 in 2009, already largely surpassing the 2010 such as biofuels and electric power generated by renewable
projection. This was achieved by means of increased vehicle fuel energy, should be facilitated in line with national requirements.
efficiency, road congestion mitigation, and the wider practice of Key to expanding the biofuel supply will be the commercialization
ecodriving, among other measures. of new fuels such as cellulosic ethanol and biomass-to-liquid
(BTL) fuels, which have no adverse impacts on food supply and
soil quality. Technological development should be advanced
Fig. 13 Actual & Targeted CO2 Emission Volumes in Japan’s
through the coordinated efforts of industry, government and
Transport Sector, 1990-2010
CO2 emissions (x 1 million tons)
academia.
320
310 Compliance with vehicle fuel efficiency targets, etc.
■ Measures to improve traffic flow
300 en
re s tak Through
•Road congestion mitigation should be achieved through the
easu
increased
290
term
vehicle fuel
coun efficiency:
adoption by governments of road infrastructure-related measures
280 CO2 Down
If no 24.70-25.50
270
Through
that represent the most effective responses to local conditions.
265 264 266 265 267 Through
260
258
263 262
260 259
other
measures:
improved
traffic flow:
Down
Improving traffic flow through road construction and road
250
250
254
251
Down
1.86-2.35
—
32.31
infrastructure development is a particularly urgent priority in
240 245
238
235
240-243 Total
reduction:
countries with rapidly expanding motorization. In most cases, ITS
230 233
229 230 Down
58.87- (Intelligent Transport Systems)-related technologies are effective
220 60.16

210
217
million tons
in improving traffic flow.
200 •Low-carbon urban planning—especially in areas where significant
1990 91 92 93 9 95 96 97 98 99 2000 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 2010 (Year)
Projected population influxes are projected—should incorporate effective road
Sources: Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan, etc.
congestion-mitigation measures, including road network develop-
ment and ITS applications, from the earliest stage of planning.

6
 Improving Air Quality
■ Measures to promote the more efficient use of vehicles
•Drivers everywhere should be urged to practice ecodriving to The Vehicles Supplied by JAMA Member
help reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. When adopted
by truck fleet operators and their drivers, ecodriving also helps
Manufacturers Incorporate Advanced
reduce operating costs. The use of onboard equipment such as Emissions Control Technologies
fuel-efficiency gauges (for passenger cars) and digital tachographs
(for trucks) facilitates ecodriving. Emissions Reduction in Gasoline-Powered
Onboard Equipment for Ecodriving Passenger Cars
JAMA member manufacturers have for years been energetically
introducing low-emission vehicles (LEVs) into the domestic
market. LEV-certified passenger cars accounted for 98% (over
3.5 million units) of total passenger car shipments in 2010, with
more than 90% of them very largely surpassing 2005 emission
standards (see ☆☆☆☆ in Fig. 15).
Since the introduction of vehicle emission regulations in Japan,
Ten Tips for Fuel-Conserving Ecodriving (as promoted in Japan) JAMA members have developed and advanced numerous
technologies to enable compliance. Those most commonly in
application today for gasoline-powered vehicles are electronically-
controlled fuel injection (for more efficient combustion) and
catalytic converter technologies, the result of important develop-
ment breakthroughs.
Japan’s low-emission vehicle certification system initially used
2000 emission standards as baseline criteria, whereby passenger
1. Accelerate gently. 6. Don’t warm up your engine
2. Maintain a steady speed. before starting off. cars surpassing those standards by 25%, 50%, or 75% were
3. Slow down by releasing 7. Know your itinerary. LEV-certified. With the introduction in 2005 of new, more
the accelerator. 8. Check your tire pressure stringent emission regulations, the system was expanded to
4. Limit the use of your regularly. include passenger cars that surpass the 2005 standards by 50%
air conditioner. 9. Reduce your load. or 75%. This system has been highly effective in promoting the
5. Don’t idle your engine. 10. Respect parking regulations. widespread use in Japan of passenger cars with significantly
  reduced exhaust emissions.
Anticipated Impact of the Recommended Measures on
Global Road Transport CO2 Emissions Fig. 15 Low-Emission Passenger Car Shipments Compared to
Total Passenger Car Shipments (Domestic)
JAMA has carried out a hypothetical study to estimate the (x 1 million units)
potential for CO2 reduction in global road transport assuming the 5
Total number of passenger car shipments 3,571,378 units
Total：
combined implementation of the measures recommended above. 3,484,707 units
4 0
Study results showed that a very significant reduction in CO2 0
0
emissions could be achieved (Fig. 14). 3
151,027
units
☆☆☆
（2005）
Fig. 14 CO2 Emissions Reduction Potential in the Global 2

Road Transport Sector ☆

3,333,680
1 （2000） ☆☆ units
assuming the implementation of recommended measures （2000）
☆☆☆
☆☆☆☆
（2000）
CO2 emissions (x 1 million tons) （2005）
0
10,000 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Note: Low-emission vehicles (LEVs) are certified on the basis of the following criteria.
☆☆☆☆: Emissions down by 75% from 2005 standards
Increased vehicle ☆☆☆: Emissions down by 50% from 2005 standards
fuel efficiency ☆☆☆: Emissions down by 75% from 2000 standards
If no CO2 countermeasures taken
8,000 ☆☆: Emissions down by 50% from 2000 standards
☆: Emissions down by 25% from 2000 standards Source: JAMA
Use of alternative fuels

Improved traffic flow

Adoption of ecodriving
Accelerated replacement Emissions Reduction in Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles
6,000 with new models
Compliance with new regulations enforced as of 2009 signifies
even greater reductions in PM and NOx emissions from heavy-
duty diesel vehicles, making those emission levels as low as those
4,000 of gasoline-powered heavy-duty vehicles.
2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 (Year)
Source: JAMA

Other JAMA publications in English and

accessible on JAMA’s Web site include:

• The Motor Industry of Japan (annual)

Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc.
Jidosha Kaikan, 1-30, Shiba Daimon 1-chome, • Report on Environmental Protection Efforts (annual)
Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-0012 Japan
Published November 2011 © JAMA. All rights reserved. Printed in Japan.
• Reducing CO2 Emissions
For inquiries, please contact JAMA’s Public Relations Office at: in the Global Road Transport Sector
Printed with
Tel: +81 (0)3 5405-6119
Vegetable oil ink on
Visit us at www.jama-english.jp. FSC-certified paper. • Automotive Technologies in Japan