The European automotive industry is since decades at the forefront of innovation to

develop ever cleaner and efficient technologies for road transport.

“The automotive suppliers have invested massively in the last years to reduce

emissions and above all particles for diesel engines” stated Mr Jean Marc Gales,

CLEPA CEO.

Current clean diesel technology is a key enabler of sustainable mobility and

contributes to the CO2 emission reduction targets set out in European climate policy.

Today’s economic and clean diesel engine is a corner stone of a sustainable fuel

strategy.

Modern road vehicle with diesel engines use highly efficient filters that remove well

over 99% of particles. The remaining exhaust particle content is comparable to the

ambient surroundings. European products complying with EURO 6 standards are

already on the market well before the legal mandatory deadlines.

CLEPA is therefore concerned about the misleading conclusions of the International

Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in their review of the health hazard

classifications of gasoline and diesel exhausts. These conclusions are based on data

from obsolete engine technology used before particle filters were introduced.

Emission profiles from engines built in the nineties and early last decade are far from

being representative of current diesel technology – an issue acknowledged by the

IARC.

“The IARC study does not reflect the advances in diesel emission technology in the

past decade and cannot therefore be accepted as basis for regulatory or vehicle

development actions. Instead of creating uncertainties in the markets, we should first

complete ongoing studies on the emissions and health impacts of modern diesel

engines that are equipped with the European world leading emission reduction

technologies.” concluded Mr Gales.

Note to Editors

CLEPA is the European Association of Automotive Suppliers.

90 of the world's most prominent suppliers for car parts, systems and modules and

25 National trade associations and European sector associations are members of

CLEPA, representing more than 3 thousand companies, employing more than 5

million people and covering all products and services within the automotive supply

chain. Based in Brussels, CLEPA is recognized as the natural discussion partner by

the European Institutions, United Nations and fellow associations (ACEA, JAMA,

MEMA, etc).

For more information, please contact: Mrs. Amalia Di Stefano |CLEPA Deputy CEO

|a.distefano@clepa.be | Tel.: +32 2 743 91 35 and consult www.clepa.eu