Wolfsburg, 2006-09-14
Volkswagen Ranks First in J.D. Power Environmental Study
The “Alternative Powertrain Study” by market research institute J.D. Power. ranks Volkswagen as the most environmentally friendly car maker in the USA.
Volkswagen is Number 1 in the USA in matters of environmental friendliness. This is confirmed by a new study by renowned US market research institute J.D. Power. The American institute analyzed 37 automotive brands represented in the USA under different environmental aspects. With three models among the top 30 lowest emission gasoline-powered and hybrid vehicles and an innovative diesel fleet Volkswagen emerged from the study carried out for the first time this year as the most environmentally friendly car maker.
The basis for data used in the “Alternative Powertrain Study” conducted by J.D. Power was supplied by data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (founded in 1970 at the behest of the White House and US Congress) and a survey of American consumers. From the results J.D. Power devised the “Automotive Environmental Index” (AEI). With approximately 50%, fuel economy is included as the most important factor in this new index, because it has a direct impact on emissions. Also as part of the study the institute established a nameplate ranking of the 30 most environmentally friendly vehicles (hybrids and gasoline-powered). Three Volkswagens placed among the top, the Golf, Jetta and New Beetle.
Diesel models were not included in this top 30 list. Their low fuel consumption and emission levels were however included in the environmental index (AEI) developed by J.D. Power and were therefore part of the overall ranking. Volkswagen is represented in the USA by several diesel models and the Jetta is the top selling diesel car in the USA. As the leading manufacturer of diesel cars in the USA Volkswagen was able to secure first place on the new “Automotive Environmental Index”. The best rankings were taken by the nameplates of diesel and hybrid vehicles. The newest diesel model on the US market is the latest Touareg V10 TDI – the first turbodiesel SUV in America with a particle filter included as a standard feature. According to J.D. Power, the share of hybrid vehicles in the USA will rise from 1.6% today to 5.0% in 2013; in the same period the share of diesel vehicles is forecast to rise from 3.6 to 9.0%.
The basis for data used in the “Alternative Powertrain Study” conducted by J.D. Power was supplied by data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (founded in 1970 at the behest of the White House and US Congress) and a survey of American consumers. From the results J.D. Power devised the “Automotive Environmental Index” (AEI). With approximately 50%, fuel economy is included as the most important factor in this new index, because it has a direct impact on emissions. Also as part of the study the institute established a nameplate ranking of the 30 most environmentally friendly vehicles (hybrids and gasoline-powered). Three Volkswagens placed among the top, the Golf, Jetta and New Beetle.
Diesel models were not included in this top 30 list. Their low fuel consumption and emission levels were however included in the environmental index (AEI) developed by J.D. Power and were therefore part of the overall ranking. Volkswagen is represented in the USA by several diesel models and the Jetta is the top selling diesel car in the USA. As the leading manufacturer of diesel cars in the USA Volkswagen was able to secure first place on the new “Automotive Environmental Index”. The best rankings were taken by the nameplates of diesel and hybrid vehicles. The newest diesel model on the US market is the latest Touareg V10 TDI – the first turbodiesel SUV in America with a particle filter included as a standard feature. According to J.D. Power, the share of hybrid vehicles in the USA will rise from 1.6% today to 5.0% in 2013; in the same period the share of diesel vehicles is forecast to rise from 3.6 to 9.0%.