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Vehicle Manufacturers Call for Sulfur-Free Fuels

27 April 2000

Vehicle Manufacturers Call for Sulfur-Free Fuels

              Improving Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Quality is Key
                   To Reducing Vehicle Environmental Impact

    BRUSSELS, Belgium, April 27 Motor vehicle manufacturers
from around the globe are calling for sulfur-free fuels in the revised World-
Wide Fuel Charter that was released today.
    This call for sulfur-free gasoline and diesel fuel (max. 5-10 parts per
million (ppm)) is a response to emerging requirements for more stringent
vehicle emission controls and reduced fuel consumption. Regulatory changes and
new technology demands placed on automakers in Asia, Europe and North America
will require substantially cleaner fuels than those which are currently widely
available.
    Some countries are moving toward the goal of sulfur-free fuels:

    Japan has had sulfur-free premium gasoline for many years;
    Sweden has had sulfur-free diesel fuel for more than a decade;
    Germany will introduce tax incentives for sulfur-free fuels (max. 10 ppm)
    by 2003 and the first sulfur-free fuels are already in the market.
    Other European countries are considering similar action.
    In the United States, one-third of the gasoline pool in California is
    below 10 ppm sulfur, and officials are considering regulatory action to
    obtain ultra-low sulfur levels statewide.
    U.S. federal officials are expected to reduce sulfur in diesel fuel to
    ultra-low levels by 2006.

    In addition to the four trade associations shown above, the Charter is
supported by the Organisation Internationale des Constructerus d'Automobiles
(OICA). OICA's members include forty national professional associations from
around the world, including the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers
(Alliance), Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), and Chinese,
Korean and South African automobile manufacturer associations.

    Additionally, the Charter is directly endorsed by:

    Associacion Mexicana de la Industria Automotriz, A.C.
    Canadian Motor Vehicles Manufacturers Association
    Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc.
    Chinese Association of Automotive Industry
    Korean Automobile Manufacturers Association
    National Association of Automobile Manufactures of South Africa
    Thai Automotive Industry Association

    As motor vehicle manufacturers continue to improve technology in the areas
of cleaner and more fuel-efficient vehicles, the need for consistently high
fuel quality continues to grow in importance. Ongoing efforts to tighten and
harmonize vehicle exhaust emission standards globally highlight the need for
cleaner and harmonized fuel standards.
    The Charter's goals are to reduce the impact of motor vehicles on the
environment through reduced vehicle fleet emissions; consistently satisfy
customer performance expectations; and minimize vehicle equipment complexities
by optimizing fuels for each emissions control category. Vehicle manufacturers
will continue to review and revise the Charter as required for future
regulatory requirements and technological improvements dictate.
    The revised World-Wide Fuel Charter is available on the Web at:

    http://www.autoalliance.org
    http://www.lowsulfurfuel.com/research.htm
    http://www.engine-manufacturers.org
    http://www.acea.be/acea/publications.htm

    The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers is a coalition of 13 car and
light truck manufacturers, representing BMW Group, DaimlerChrysler
Corporation, Fiat Auto SpA, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation,
Isuzu Motors America, Inc., Mazda North American Operations, Mitsubishi Motor
Sales of American, Inc., Nissan North America, Inc., Porsche Cars North
America, Inc., Toyota Motor North America, Inc., Volkswagen of America, Inc.,
and Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. For more information, visit Alliance's
Web site at http://www.autoalliance.org.
    ACEA is the professional body representing the interests and combined
skills of thirteen European car, truck and bus manufacturers (BMW AG, DAF
Trucks NV, Fiat Auto SpA, Ford of Europe Inc., General Motors Europe AG, MAN
Nutzfahrzeuge AG, DaimlerChrysler AG, Porsche AG, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Renault
SA, Scania AB, Volkswagen AG, AB Volvo) at the European level and throughout
the world. Visit ACEA's Web site at http://www.acea.be.
    Engine Manufacturers Association is a trade association representing
worldwide manufacturers of internal combustion engines for all applications
except passenger cars and aircraft. EMA continues to work with government and
industry stakeholders to help the nation achieve its goals of cleaner fuels,
more efficient engines and cleaner air. For more information, visit EMA's Web
site at http://www.engine-manufacturers.org.
    JAMA is the trade association for major Japanese automobile manufacturers.
Its members include Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd., Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., Hino
Motors, Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Isuzu Motors Limited, Kawasaki Heavy
Industries, Ltd., Mazda Motor Corporation, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation,
Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd., Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Suzuki Motor
Corporation, Toyota Motor Corporation, and Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. For more
information, visit the JAMA Web site at http://www.jama.or.jp.