Würzburg/Germany, 23 May 2007

Three quarters of Germany’s car drivers are in favour of the hybrid engine as an alternative to standard types. However, diesel engines with a particle filter, economic petrol engines and hydrogen-based engines also all come high up on potential car buyers‘ wish lists. Just over 40 percent of those questioned in the survey already own a diesel-run car which is fitted with a particle filter. Of these people, one in six has already had their car retrofitted. Owners of cars which are between eight and ten years old, drivers of top German brands of car and the older generation of car-drivers are the three categories which are in the lead as regards having cars retrofitted.

These are all facts given in the latest edition (no. 20) of the German motor trade sector magazine, »kfz-betrieb«, based on the findings of its „trendometer“ analysis tool known as „Trend-Tacho“.

56 percent of German drivers of diesel-run cars which do not yet have a particle filter intend to take their cars in for retrofitting. The will to do so is particularly pronounced on the part of drivers of French makes of car (78 percent) and owners of minis and other small cars (70 percent). Half of those questioned in the survey would be prepared to pay more than 500 euros for having their cars retrofitted with a particle filter. Residents of large cities show the greatest willingness to pay out for retrofitting (77 percent), followed by people aged 60 and over (73 percent) and car-drivers whose annual mileage comes to between 10,000 and 15,000 kilometres a year. Just about two thirds of those taking part in the survey intend to have their cars fitted with a particle filter at a contractually-bound repair garage.

The „Trend-Tacho“ findings are the result of a representative survey carried out on (male and female) car drivers in Germany who bear the responsibility for the repair and maintenance of their car themselves. The survey was conducted by ABH Marketingservice and BBE Unternehmensberatung (management consultants) and was commissioned by the German motor sector magazine, »kfz-betrieb«, together with Santander Consumer Bank.

»kfz-betrieb« is published by Vogel Auto Media, Würzburg/Germany, and is the most widely read specialist magazine in the German car trade, celebrating its 95th anniversary in 2005 and fulfilling the role of official publication of the German vehicle trade association (ZDK), which represents the interests of over 40,000 car dealer businesses and repair garages.

If you have any queries, please feel free to contact:

Norbert Rubbel

Editor – „Services & Technology“ Department

Editorial office of »kfz-betrieb« – weekly journal & website

Vogel Auto Media

97064 Würzburg/Germany

Tel. +49 (0)931-418-2634

Fax +49 (0)931-418-2050

Email: norbert_rubbel@vogel-automedien.de