Business Drivers Willing to Act on Reducing Environmental Pollution

LeasePlan Introduces GreenPlan to Support Businesses and Business Drivers

ALMERE, The Netherlands, April 25 -- Business drivers are more aware of the important role they play in reducing environmental pollution and are willing to act on it, as shown by a worldwide LeasePlan survey amongst business drivers. To facilitate this, LeasePlan introduces the new global initiative GreenPlan to support businesses to realise 'greener' fleets.

Increasing personal commitment to the environment

91% of the respondents agreed with the question whether they personally have a role to play in reducing environmental pollution, a 7% rise compared to the 2002 survey. Business drivers consider driving alternatively fuelled vehicles if the opportunity presents itself, and costs are similar.

Shared responsibility

Vahid Daemi, LeasePlan's Chief Executive Officer, indicates that it is time to act. "We should be honest about our position; we deal with an underlying asset that is a heavy contributor to overall pollution. We do not believe there is a viable alternative to its usage, but we do want to contribute to decrease the effects that transportation is having on the environment."

In line with the Kyoto Protocol and the European Union, LeasePlan will use the average CO2 emission level of 130 gr/km as a reference for its own fleet, and will offset the possible difference.

Global solution to a global issue

Daemi: "With the new service named GreenPlan we will help clients assess their fleet's emissions and reduce those emissions through time. We can facilitate offsetting part or all of the CO2 emissions. Also business drivers are very important in this process. Conscious driving can significantly decrease the CO2 emissions."

LeasePlan recognises global warming as a global issue. GreenPlan is developed as a global initiative, verified by TuV Rheinland Group and supported by Intelligent Energy Europe (IEE). It reflects LeasePlan's belief that companies can play a vital role in the reduction of CO2 emissions.

Note for the Editor:

Profile

LeasePlan is engaged in fleet and vehicle management, mainly through operating leasing. LeasePlan employs 6,300 people worldwide, manages 1.26 million vehicles and has a consolidated lease portfolio of EUR 13.2 billion. LeasePlan has held a universal banking licence since 1993 and is regulated by the Dutch Central Bank. LeasePlan is indirectly owned by a consortium consisting of the Volkswagen Group (50%), Mubadala Development Company (25%) and the Olayan Group (25%).

For more information on LeasePlan GreenPlan, please go to www.leaseplan.com