Car dealer green scheme
March 31st, 2009 by Richard Aucock
MIDDLESBOROUGH council has joined up with car dealers to launch a new Green Car awareness scheme.
The scheme aims to inform customers about emissions when they are buying new or used cars, with unique literature and branding.
Crucially, the scheme extends the need to show CO2 emissions of cars on sale, from new cars only, to including all cars on sale.
But, to ensure customers are not daunted, Middlesborough Council has devised an innovative scheme of simplifying this – by placing CO2 ratings into bandings, from 1 to 6.
1 is the worst, 6 is the best – cars which get a gold rating for emissions. This information is displayed on a special branded interior mirror hanger, designed by the council.
Only car dealers taking part in the council’s Motor Trade Partnership can join in the scheme (and display the hangars), which was launched this week by Mayor Ray Mallon. Who, gratifyingly, is also a car nut!
‘It’s well known that I love my cars,’ he said, ‘but I’m equally aware that there is an environmental price to pay.
‘We can’t just dismiss the fact that climate change is with us, and that vehicle emissions are a leading cause of greenhouse gases that lead to climate change.’
He was keen to remind Middlesborough residents about the financial side to it, too. ‘The amount of Vehicle Excise Duty paid by drivers is linked directly to the amount of CO2 that their vehicle produces.
‘Cars that are more fuel efficient generally produce fewer emissions as well as save money on fuel.’
Hence, the introduction of the Green Car scheme, which ‘looks to ensure that information on vehicle emissions is available in an easy to understand way – for used cars as well as new.’
The scheme will be evaluated for two months and the comments of dealers and customers analysed. If it’s a hit, says Mallon, it will be offered to all car dealers in the Middlesborough area.
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Tags: branding, CO2, green, Middlesborough