Würzburg, April 4, 2007

German car manufacturers in particular are lagging behind! The current environmental debate is clearly leaving its mark on German car buyers: away from horsepower and towards less CO2. A trend reversal in the car market may be on the horizon here.

Just under a third of drivers believe that Toyota builds particularly environmentally friendly cars. This is a clear lead over Volkswagen, Peugeot and Mercedes-Benz. Environmental friendliness is a "very important" purchase argument for almost all new car buyers (95 percent). A "powerful engine" is less important to them. 83 percent are prepared to spend more money for 20 percent less CO2 emissions. And 95% of respondents demand more environmentally friendly cars from manufacturers and agree with the statement: "If the automotive industry wanted to, we would have had many more environmentally friendly vehicles long ago." The current debate on CO2 emissions is therefore having an effect. However, drivers have no idea whatsoever about the planned CO2 limits and what their own vehicle emits.

This is the result of the new "Trend-Tacho" analysis tool for the automotive industry. The Trend-Tacho is published in the industry magazine "kfz-betrieb" issue no. 14, April 5. ABH Marketingservice and BBE Unternehmensberatung surveyed 1,000 car drivers in a representative random selection. The Trend-Tacho was commissioned by the industry magazine "kfz-betrieb" and Santander Consumer Bank.

"kfz-betrieb" is a trade magazine published by Vogel Auto Medien, Würzburg. The most widely read trade magazine in the automotive industry celebrated its 95th anniversary in 2005 and is the official organ of the German Motor Trade (ZDK), the professional lobby for over 40,000 car dealerships and workshops.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Wolfgang Michel

Editor-in-Chief

Editorial office "kfz-betrieb" weekly journal & online

Vogel Auto Media

97064 Würzburg

Phone +49 931 418-25 61

Fax +49 931 418-20 50

E-mail: wolfgang_michel@vogel-automedien.de