Modern city buses improve the environment in large cities the world over

Scania at the UN-World Bank conference in Cairo: Modern city buses improve the environment in large cities the world over By replacing today's 15-20 year old high-pollution and low-efficiency public transport carriers with modern city buses employing the very latest diesel or ethanol technology, immense environmental gains can be achieved without costly investment in new infrastructure. This position was put forward by Scania at the UN and World Bank environmental and transport conference in Cairo over the weekend, against the backdrop of the city's teeming urban traffic and congested roads. There is an obvious need for effective but viable measures at reasonable cost, with the aim of achieving quick environmental improvements in the metropolitan centres of the world's developing nations. "Each country has to solve its growing problems on the basis of its own prerequisites, along with international assistance in the form of credits from the World Bank and other institutions. In its capacity as one of the world's leading bus manufacturers, Scania highlights the path chosen in Europe: the implementation of cleaner diesel technology in Europe has actually reduced the negative effects of the increased transport that accompanies economic growth," explains Rolf Hedberg, Sales Manager, Scania and one of the main guest speakers at the conference. "By utilising the existing road network in a well-thought-out way, continuously training drivers, steadily improving maintenance routines and implementing clean modern vehicle technology, we can achieve results quickly and at reasonable cost," emphasises Rolf Hedberg. Scania is currently involved in several such projects outside Europe, for example in Marrakech in Morocco and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. For further information, please contact Ulf Söderström on telephone number +46 8-553 81044, mobile phone +46 70-680 9595. Scania is one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks and buses for heavy transport applications, and of industrial and marine engines. With 23,500 employees and production facilities in Europe and Latin America, Scania is one of the most profitable companies in its sector. In 1998, turnover totalled SEK 45,300 million and income after financial items SEK 3,200 million. Scania products are marketed in about 100 countries worldwide and approximately 96 percent of total production is sold outside Sweden. Scania press releases are available on the Internet, www.scania.com ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/12/06/19991206BIT00210/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/12/06/19991206BIT00210/bit0002.pdf