DETROIT — Amid mounting criticism of light trucks by environmentalists, Ford Motor Co. said Monday it will introduce sport utility vehicles and minivans this fall that pollute no more than passenger cars.
The vehicles would cut some smog-producing emissions by 50% over the existing Ford models and put an estimated 800,000 cleaner vehicles on the nation's roads next year.
The announcement made at the North American International Auto Show is the latest environmental initiative pushed forward by the nation's auto makers, which are under increasing worldwide pressure to build cleaner and more efficient vehicles.
Just last month, the California Air Resources Board proposed subjecting light trucks, sport utilities and minivans to the same smog controls as passenger cars by 2004 when stricter regulations are expected. Federal officials are considering similar rules.
Auto makers fear that such regulatory changes--mandating far more than Ford offered Monday--could threaten their golden goose by forcing them to install new engines that would increase prices for trucks and potentially hurt their image with the public.
Sport Utilities Fuel 60% of Big 3's Profits
Light trucks now make up nearly half of all auto sales and are the most profitable to manufacturers. Sport utilities alone account for more than 15% of sales but fuel 60% of Big Three profits, analysts estimate.
Ford is cutting its truck emissions in half by installing more sophisticated electronic engine controls and catalytic converters. Computers will better control the mix of fuel and air in the engine and cut added pollution by burning the fuel more efficiently, while the advanced catalytic converters will trap more emissions. The company said the new equipment costs less than $100 per vehicle, but it does not plan to raise prices.
"This is a major breakthrough," said Ford Chairman Alex Trotman.
The company said its 1999 minivans and sport utility vehicles, including the popular Windstar and the Explorer, will meet existing federal and California low-emission vehicle standards. Already, Ford is selling several sport utilities in California that meet state pollution regulations, which are tougher than federal standards.
Honda became the first company to sell a vehicle nationwide that meets California's low-emission standard when it began selling the Accord LX in September. Ford is the first to offer trucks that meet the lower passenger car standard.
