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General Motors Leads Effort for Cleaner Cars

17 December 1997

General Motors Leads Effort for Cleaner Cars

    WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 -- Consistent with a concept first
introduced by the company, General Motors Corporation today
announced its support of a new voluntary program to provide cleaner air
nationwide.  In its notification to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
and the Governors of the Northeast states, GM called on the worldwide auto
industry and the northeastern states to join in this unique public/private
partnership to provide the country with cleaner air than currently required by
law.
    The NLEV initiative is the culmination of a joint effort by the auto
industry, state governments, EPA and many non-governmental organizations and
individual citizens, all working for cleaner air.
    "Under NLEV, GM will build a car that is 99 percent emissions-free," said
Dennis Minano, GM vice president of public policy and chief environmental
officer.  "The NLEV program will guarantee that America has the cleanest fleet
of motor vehicles in the world well into the next century."
    GM will start producing NLEV vehicles if all 13 northeast states
comprising the Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) agree to participate and the
EPA Administrator formally declares the program in effect.
    EPA has determined that the NLEV program will produce better air quality
within the 13 northeastern states than would occur if each state adopted the
California LEV program.  And because it is a national program, auto
manufacturers would provide the same vehicles nationwide, rather than just in
the northeast.
    NLEV would also benefit consumers.  With a national program, manufacturers
can offer a greater selection of models and features at lower cost than would
be possible in serving a patchwork of differing state clean air regulations.
    GM, the world's largest auto manufacturer, is a leader in developing
alternative powered vehicles.  In 1996, GM introduced the EV1, recognized as
the world's only built-from-the-ground-up non-polluting electric vehicle.  GM
is also a participant in the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles
(PNGV), a joint venture of GM, other domestic manufacturers and the federal
government.  The goal of PNGV is to develop breakthrough technologies that
will improve fuel efficiency by up to three times that of today's vehicles
while maintaining the safety, cost and utility of today's average car.

SOURCE  General Motors Corporation