Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Lobbying Overview: The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) has strategic, mostly negative engagement with road transport-related climate policy in Japan, Europe, and Australia in 2023-25. JAMA has advocated against stringent GHG standards for vehicles, zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandates and ICE-phase out targets in multiple regions.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: JAMA has generally positive top-line messaging on climate change. At a May 2023 press conference, JAMA’s Executive Director appeared to support a 1.5 degrees global warming target. A May 2023 EU consultation response by JAMA also supported Japan's 2050 carbon neutrality target. InfluenceMap could not find recent evidence of JAMA’s position on the Paris Agreement.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: JAMA has strategic, mostly negative engagement on GHG emissions standards and fuel economy standards for vehicles globally. In Japan, JAMA supported the inclusion of off-cycle credits in corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards for light-duty vehicles from 2030, which may weaken the stringency of the rules, in a March 2024 automobile fuel efficiency standards subcommittee joint meeting. In Europe, in a May 2023 consultation response on the EU's review of CO2 emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs), JAMA advocated to either delay expanding the scope of HDVs covered, or to review the proposed 2030 45% CO2 reduction goal, and called for the inclusion of carbon-neutral fuels as a compliance pathway. In Australia, in response to a May 2023 consultation on Fuel Efficiency (CO2) Standards (FES), JAMA advocated for numerous compliance flexibilities like multiplier credits that would weaken the rule. In a March 2024 consultation, JAMA advocated to weaken proposed fuel efficiency (CO2) targets for light-duty vehicles, to delay the introduction of Australia's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) and for less stringent non-compliance penalties.
Regarding other climate policies, in a September 2024 carbon pricing hearing for the Japanese Cabinet Secretariat, JAMA supported the Green Transformation Emission Trading Scheme (GX-ETS) with minor exceptions, such as conditions for stable price fluctuations and having a strong energy policy in place in advance. Regarding green steel, in a November 2024 hearing at the Green Steel Study Group for GX Promotion, JAMA advocated for a clarified definition and standards for green steel and mechanisms for its emission calculation, it is unclear whether this is aligned with IPCC recommendations.
Positioning on Energy Transition: JAMA has consistently promoted a long-term role for internal combustion engine (ICE)-powered hybrids as well as biofuels, 'carbon-neutral fuels' and e-fuels as alternative fuels in the road transport sector over full electrification, and appeared unsupportive of stringent Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandates and ICE-phase out dates. In May 2023, Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun magazine reported on a public statement by JAMA which endorsed the EU weakening its 100% 2035 CO2 target for cars and vans through the inclusion of an e-fuels loophole to power ICE vehicles after 2035. According to a September 2023 Nikkei report, JAMA’s Vice Chair appeared to endorse the UK government's announcement to delay its initial ICE phase-out from 2030 to 2035. JAMA also appeared to advocate to delay the UK’s ZEV mandate in a May 2023 public consultation found via freedom of information (FOI) request, stating that 2024 should be a monitoring year only. It also pushed for the ZEV mandate targets for vans to be weakened, while supporting the ZEV mandates for cars with exceptions. At a roundtable held at the Japanese Prime Minister's office in November 2022, reported by Toyota Times magazine, the JAMA Chair suggested that their earlier meeting had influenced the Japanese government decision to oppose ZEV targets at the 2022 G7 summit.
Regarding road transportation decarbonization strategies, in a May 2023 public-private consultative meeting on synthetic fuels (e-fuel), JAMA advocated to accelerate e-fuels development and prepare for future paths with the use of battery EVs, fuel cells, and carbon neutral fuels. JAMA consistently advocated for a longer-term role for ICE-powered vehicles alongside biofuels and synthetic fuels in such vehicles over rapid electrification, pushing a 2040 target of over 50% for carbon neutral fuel supply for Japan in government hearings in September, November, and December 2024. Additionally, in its JAMA Vision 2035 report and JAMA’s report on ASEAN regions both published in January 2025, and in JAMA-organized side-events at COP28 and COP29, JAMA advocated for a “multi-pathway approach” to decarbonize road transport by 2050. This includes the use of ICE-powered vehicles fueled on ‘carbon neutral fuels’ and a major role for ICE-powered hybrids and hydrogen-powered vehicles over full electrification.
InfluenceMap collects and assesses evidence of corporate climate policy engagement on a weekly basis, depending on the availability of information from each specific data source (for more information see our methodology). While this analysis flows through to the company’s scores each week, the summary above is updated periodically. This summary was last updated in Q1 2025.