SAAB JOINS NATIONAL LOW EMISSION VEHICLE PFOGRAM
NORCROSS, Ga. - Saab Cars USA, Inc. has joined a comprehensive new "clean car" initiative, the National Low Emission Vehicle (NLEV) Program. NLEV is a voluntary agreement between auto manufacturers, EPA and most of the Northeastern states to provide cars nationally beginning in 1999 that are up to 70 percent cleaner than today's Federal emission standards. All Saabs sold in the U.S. and Canada beginning with the 1999 model year will be NLEV cars.
"Saab believes the National Low Emission Vehicle Program provides an opportunity to achieve substantial environmental benefits in air quality," said Joel Manby, president and CEO, Saab Cars USA, Inc. "By the sale of cleaner vehicles that meet the same stringent standards as those sold in California, automakers can help reduce air pollution nationwide, especially in many urban areas such as Atlanta, where Saab Cars USA is headquartered."
Saab was one of the automakers recognized for its participation in NLEV at a February 12 public announcement in Washington, DC by Vice President Al Gore and EPA Administrator Carol Browner. Eight Northeastern states and the District of Columbia have adopted the NLEV standards. Some carmakers that participate in the NLEV program will offer vhicles i those states first, expanding to nationwide beginnin3 with 2001 models.
However, for the last 20 years, almost all Saabs sold in the U.S. have already been "50-state" cars that meet both the Federal and California emission standards. Since the 1970's, Saab has been a leader in reducing engine emissions by being one of the first to introduce advanced technologies associated with electronic fuel and ignition management systems, three-way catalytic converters and four-valve-per-cylinder combustion chambers.