The top executives from the European automotive industry will meet here Friday for a board meeting of ACEA, their influential lobbying group.

It's likely that ACEA will again voice strong opposition to pending EU legislation to force tough CO2 emission cuts on automakers selling cars in Europe.

With a single voice, ACEA will again insist that Brussels' current draft legislation -- forcing automakers to reduce their fleet average CO2 emissions to 130 grams per kilometer by 2012 from 158g/km last year -- is too strict for the European automotive industry.

This is not big news. ACEA has been taking this stance since the European Commission's draft legislation was published in December 2007.

The problem is that, after a quick tour of the Paris show, you really wonder: What is this industry looking for from Brussels?

European automakers will again say that 130g/km by 2012 is technically unattainable; too expensive for the consumer and – mainly – will seriously undermine their future profits.

Visiting this year's Paris show, I see a number of stands, from Ford to Volkswagen, that showcase cars with CO2 emissions under 100g/km. These are cars that are now on the market or will be by next summer at the latest.

Even Dacia, Renault's low cost brand, is launching a line of low-carbon emission models.

At this year's show, 130g/km seems to be a target that is reachable even before 2012.

So, by objecting to the Commission's proposal, the industry is communicating in a counterproductive way.

Trying to show you look greener than you really are:

1. does not help the environment

2. undermines ACEA's credibility

3. gives further strength to environmental lobbying groups accusing the industry it could do more than what it currently does

The environment committee of the European Parliament last week rejected a set of industry-friendly changes, saying the proposed CO2 legislation was too soft on the auto industry.

With so many cars on display here promising CO2 emissions under 100g/km, the European industry is just convincing the environment committee it is exactly right: 130g/km by 2012 is attainable.

You may e-mail Luca Ciferri at lciferri@craincom.de