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Super Clean Cars Are Coming to Houston

28 April 1998

Super Clean Cars Are Coming to Houston

    HOUSTON, April 28 -- The voluntary National Low Emission
Vehicle (NLEV) program, which will result in 99 percent clean cars is on its
way to Houston.
    The NLEV program, proposed by America's Car Companies -- Chrysler, Ford
and General Motors -- will provide cleaner cars and light trucks to most
states than currently required by the Federal government.
    "This is great news for Houston, NLEV vehicles are super clean.  In fact,
they are 99 percent cleaner than vehicles produced just 30 years ago," said
Bob Babik, Director, Vehicle Environment Department of the American Automobile
Manufacturers Association (AAMA).
    The super clean vehicles reduce hydrocarbon emissions by 70 percent and
NOx emissions by 50 percent from today's required levels.  NLEV vehicles will
be sold in some states later this year and in Texas within the next two years.
    "The state of Texas should be very pleased with the NLEV program.  It will
provide Houston's citizens with cleaner air and it will bring it to them
faster and cheaper than any other clean air proposal for new cars," Babik
noted.
    The advanced NLEV technology includes improved catalytic converters, more
precise computer controls of engine performance, and tighter control of air-
fuel mixtures.  The product changes for NLEV will be transparent to customers.
    "Houston consumers certainly will benefit from NLEV.  With increasing
competition in the marketplace, they won't have to limit their choices when
they are ready to purchase a super clean car or light truck," said Babik.

    AAMA is the trade association whose members are Chrysler Corporation, Ford
Motor Company and General Motors Corporation.  Visit AAMA's Web site on the
World Wide Web at http://www.aama.com.

SOURCE  American Automobile Manufacturers Association