European, Japanese and United States heavy-duty engine and vehicle manufacturers agree that addressing common goals of improving fuel efficiency and fuel quality require a global perspective

New Orleans, LA, October 8, 2008. Chief executives of the world's leading heavy-duty engine and vehicle manufacturing companies met today in New Orleans to discuss challenges facing the industry. The discussions focused on opportunities to address climate change and global energy security. The executives agreed that addressing those important topics would require developing effective fuel efficiency measurement metrics and methodologies and global fuel regulations. Additional topics discussed included global air quality emissions standards, renewable fuels, and road and vehicle safety.

The meeting in New Orleans was hosted by Mr. Tim Solso, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cummins, Inc. It is the sixth year that the chief executives met to address critical industry issues on a global level.

Summarizing the meeting, Mr. Solso stated: “The world's leading commercial engine and vehicle manufacturers recognize the importance of fuel efficiency to our customers and support the global effort to combat climate change. Developing metrics and methodologies to evaluate fuel efficiency and advancing global fuel regulations are key initiatives that will serve our customers and the environment. The executives who participated today are dedicated to working with government bodies worldwide to reduce fuel consumption and emissions from on-road goods movement.”

Continuing the progress made at previous meetings, the chief executives discussed how the global harmonization of technical standards affecting heavy-duty engines and vehicles can enhance environmental performance, safety, and efficient goods movement. Among the topics addressed at the meeting were:

• Recent initiatives to improve fuel efficiency
  The need for uniform metrics and measurement methodologies to provide an accurate basis for quantifying fuel efficiency of on-road goods movement
  
• The advantages of using computer simulation to evaluate fuel efficiency of very diverse commercial vehicle configurations and uses.
  
• The importance of harmonized fuel specifications and the need to develop technical and quality specifications for renewable fuels and the participants promoted and supported the hydrogenation processing routes
  
• Progress in developing methods to certify hybrid electric vehicles
  
• Development of a worldwide harmonized standard for air quality emissions testing
  
• Improving road and commercial vehicle safety through a holistic approach

As a result of today's meeting, the chief executives of the assembled companies agreed to continue working together with governments toward harmonized global standards with an emphasis on uniform measurement and testing protocols. The executives further agreed to meet jointly with the relevant national authorities to stress the need for a speeding progress towards the development of WHDC. They also agreed to work to improve fuel efficiency, develop hybrid technology certification procedures, and develop high quality renewable fuels specifications.

The executives agreed that both society and business benefit when governments around the world and engine and truck manufacturers work collaboratively to enhance road transport efficiency, safety, environmental protection, and public and private mobility.

Mr. Andreas Renschler, Chairman of the Commercial Vehicle Board of Directors of the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) and member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, extended an invitation to the seventh Global Commercial Vehicle Industry Meeting in Europe in 2009.

For further information regarding the meeting, please contact the following individuals:

In addition to the participation of the chief executives, the Global Commercial Vehicle Industry Meeting is attended by member delegates and staff from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA), and the Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA).