A German vehicle association is campaigning to improve the quality of air in the country in a bid to increase demand for new vehicles.

The German association of foreign car and truck-makers (VDIK) is launching the Pro Clean Air campaign in an effort to get more companies to invest in newer vehicles that are better for the environment.

It has already lobbied its members to begin subsidising the disposal of older vehicles which do not meet the 1996 Euro2 regulations on emissions so that owners can trade in their old vehicles for cleaner ones which meet the tougher standards that have been imposed since 1996.

VDIK president Volker Lange announced: "All the carmakers on our board as well as two further ones have already agreed to take part and we expect the overwhelming majority to follow."

The group claims that 33 per cent of all cars in Germany do not presently meet the Euro2 criteria, while roughly half of all light commercial vehicles currently only achieve Euro1 standards.

Therefore, the VDIK is looking to change this and improve the number of cars in Germany that meet more recent European emissions targets and the group hopes it can reduce the pollution from Germany's vehicles through offering incentives to owners to trade in their older, more polluting models.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd