Car makers have hit out at European plans to cut CO2 emissions from fleets of vehicles by 30pc by 2030 as “unrealistic” and “very aggressive”.

Proposals from the European Commission to reduce CO2 emissions from cars and vans are intended to encourage the development of electric cars.

The starting point for the reductions is the 95 grams of CO2 per kilometer target set for 2020. The Commission called the new level “ambitious, realistic and enforceable” and said it would help maintain the European car industry’s place in face of competition from the US and China.