The motor car has been with us for more than 120 years and today it is hard to imagine life without the motor car. It has transformed our way of life, our landscape, and our outlook. Worldwide it has provided mobility, pleasure and economic opportunity to millions of people, but its widespread use has damaged the environment. Now the big question is how sustainable is the motor car, and the way we use it?
The European Commission is committed to reducing CO2 emissions from new cars and vans sold in the European Union, to ensure that the EU meets its greenhouse gas emission targets under the Kyoto Protocol and beyond. To meet the targets requires some fundamental changes in the way cars are assembled, used, and – ultimately – disposed of. Adhesive bonding is one of beneficial factors in car production since it helps to reduce the vehicle’s weight, and thus also the CO2 emission, of the finished car. Moreover, it has also proved to be the most energy efficient joining technique. A lighter car generally emits less CO2. But modern cars also need to display ever more innovative and functional designs and continously improve the safety of the passengers.