Canadian Automobile Dealers Association Launches New Website on Auto Emissions

OTTAWA, April 14 /CNW Telbec/ - Today, on Parliament Hill, the Canadian
Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) launched a new public education website,
AutoEmissions101.ca. The bilingual website was created to provide fact-based
information on auto emissions and the role played by vehicles in the
environment.
“We have launched the site as a resource to educate our member dealers,
their employees and, in turn, the public about how the industry as a whole has
successfully moved on the issue” said CADA Chairman, Tom Donnelly.
The site presents the facts on emissions and clarifies the misconception
that the auto industry is the leading producer of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in
Canada. In fact, new vehicles sold in Canada represent only one percent of
GHGs.
Visitors to the site will also learn that the Auto Industry has signed a
voluntary agreement to reduce emissions by 5.3 megatonnes by 2010 and
continues to rapidly develop new technologies that will meet this voluntary
goal and further reduce vehicle emissions.
“Developing new technologies is not enough” cautions Donnelly. “There are
currently about 1 million 20-year-old vehicles on our roads today. Removing
these vehicles would be the equivalent to removing 37 million new vehicles
from the road in terms of smog, not to mention the associated safety
improvements.”
The website will also educate consumers as to their role in green
driving. This includes pointers on GHG reduction and steps individuals can
take to make a difference, including:

- Plan you trips and driving routes to avoid traffic congestion
- Observe speed limits
- Accelerate evenly
- Drive smoothly
- Limit the use of accessories
- Don’t carry more than you need
- Ensure your vehicle is properly maintained

“If every other industry had acted on smog and GHG the way the vehicle
industry has, we would have far fewer concerns today,” pointed out Chairman
Donnelly.
The website can be found at AutoEmissions101.ca.

The Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) is the national
association for franchised automobile dealerships that sell new cars and
trucks. Our 3,500 dealers represent a key sector of Canada’s economy. Through
our dealers, we are represented in nearly every community and those dealers
collectively employ over 140,000 people across the country.