Japan carmakers to step up efforts to get eco-friendly certification

Local Japanese carmakers plan to step up efforts to have more of their new cars certified as low-emission vehicles by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported.

It said the companies aim to substantially reduce the amount of nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons released. Consequently, about 80% of the new cars to hit the domestic market around late fiscal 2003 are likely to win eco-friendly certification.

Honda Motor Co aims to win eco-friendly certification for some models of its new Accord sedan due to debut later this month, and Mitsubishi Motors Corp will do so for its Colt subcompact slated to be marketed in November, it quoted officials at the companies as saying.

The official certification is said to use one of the world's strictest emissions standards and calls for a reduction of 75% more nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons than is required by the regulations set in 2000.

Honda intends to release even more low-emission cars after the launch of the new Accord and win certification for most vehicles, excluding small trucks, by the end of 2005.

Mitsubishi Motors hopes to win certification for 70% of its passenger cars, excluding minicars, within fiscal 2003.

Toyota Motor Corp has already had its 15 main car models, including the Vitz and Allion, officially certified as eco-friendly, and most of its cars to be released in the future are also expected to win the certification, the report said.

Nissan Motor Co has done so for such popular models as the March and the Fairlady Z sports car, and about 80% of its cars are expected to be certified by the end of March 2003.

As of the end of 2000, few cars were certified except for such models as Toyota's Prius gasoline-electric hybrid car and Nissan's Bluebird Sylphy sedan, the report added.