Gyeonggi-do, South Korea – The Korean government will increase fuel efficiency standards by 16.5 per cent from the current level in 2012, and to as high as advanced countries by 2015 and 2020, as announced by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy.

The country already has improved its fuel economy. New passenger cars sold within the country in 2008 averaged 8.7 L/100 km, while vehicles in 2007 averaged 9.0 L/100 km. Better mileage is expected to save nearly 50 million litres of fuel and prevent the release of 103,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

The improvement is attributable mainly to increasing sales of lightweight vehicles and small cars, as well as to advances in engine and parts technologies.