For Immediate Release April 27, 2000

Contacts: Lance Roberts, Alliance (202) 326-5523 Thierry Proteau, ACEA 32-2-738-7345 Takumi Oue, JAMA 81-3-5219-6655 Glenn Keller, EMA (312) 644-6610

VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS CALL FOR SULFUR-FREE FUELS

Improving gasoline and diesel fuel quality is key to reducing vehicle environmental impact

Brussels, Belgium – 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/ (see Fuels section)
www.lowsulfurfuel.com/research.htm
http://www.engine-manufacturers.org/
www.acea.be/acea/publications.htm

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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 our 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 our 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 our 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 our Web site at http://www.jama.or.jp/.