Gasan Enterprises feels that, as a car importer, it is duty bound to help counterbalance the carbon emissions created by cars.

David Gasan, managing director of Gasan Enterprises, said the company joined international car manufacturers in their efforts to make motoring greener, a mission which tops the agenda of major environmental institutions.

With that mission statement in mind, Gasan Enterprises initiated a campaign in which it pledges to plant a tree with every car sold, as it is a popular way to offset carbon. This campaign is being held in association with the 34U campaign.

Mr Gasan said, “We are very pleased to offer this extra added value to our services in this current climate where going green has become a necessity... we felt that planting a tree for every car sold can contribute towards a greener environment”

Trees absorb carbon dioxide and convert it into oxygen. A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide in its lifetime.

Increasing number of car manufacturers are under pressure to offer a greater range of environmentally friendly vehicles at a reasonable price without neglecting the desired engine output and comfort.

Research indicates positive results. The average cars sold in industrialised countries and certain developing ones are much cleaner in terms of emissions than vehicles that were on the roads 10 or 20 years ago.

The 21st century presents the automotive industry with a challenge to meet the growing demand for personal mobility while increasing safety levels and minimising negative environmental effects. In 1994, the Aachen Research Centre was founded to expand Ford's global research activities and further raise standards in these areas. Some 130 researchers from 20 different countries work on sophisticated technologies to address future challenges.

Aachen Research Centre is centrally positioned in the heart of Europe, allowing for close cooperation with more than 40 universities in 16 different countries.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Keep your car tuned

Regular maintenance helps improve fuel efficiency and reduces emissions. When just one per cent of car owners properly maintain their cars, nearly a billion pounds of carbon dioxide are kept out of the atmosphere.

Check your tyres weekly to make sure they’re properly inflated

Proper inflation can improve gas mileage by more than three per cent. Since every gallon of petrol saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, every increase in fuel efficiency makes a difference!