The launch of new products within the UK was unveiled today by Pirelli Eco Technology Commercial Director Stefano Sanchini at a press conference in Birmingham during the Commercial Vehicle Show: one of the leading trade fairs in Europe for commercial vehicles and aftermarket products.

“We’re delighted to be highlighting our new range of ground-breaking products within Great Britain, a crucial market that is of particular relevance with the latest emissions regulations (stage 3/4) for the London LEZ (Low Emission Zone) to be implemented starting from January 2012″ said Sanchini. “Our products are designed to ensure that operators meet these environmental targets without having to trade in their old vehicles.”

Pirelli Eco Technology showcases the Feelpure range of products: a complete portfolio of technologies developed by Pirelli Eco Technology to reduce regulated emissions from diesel engines.

The latest product from the range is the Feelpure Platinum filter, which was launched earlier this year. Feelpure Platinum is a wall flow DPF system with continuous regeneration strategy. The use of a platinum coated catalyser mounted in front of the filtering cartridge in recrystallized silicon carbide ensures the best operating performance for the vehicle and class-leading efficiency in emissions reduction.
Feelpure Platinum environment performances, with reduction rates of 99.7% PN (Particles Number), over 95% PM (Particulate Matter), over 95% HC (Hydrocarbon) and over 75% CO (Carbon Monoxide), match the strictest air quality legislation currently existing in Europe.

“The Platinum filter further enlarges the Pirelli environmental range of emissions reduction technologies” added Sanchini. “Pirelli emissions reduction technologies enable commercial vehicles to comply with the latest emissions regulations and demonstrates the firm commitment from both ourselves and our customers to reduce the impact of commercial vehicles on the environment.”

The Platinum filter is the latest addition to the range of environmentally aware Feelpure products, which all feature a filter cartridge in silicon carbide, a material chosen by Pirelli Eco Technology for its long lasting strength and for its capacity to withstand thermal and mechanical stress.

All the Feelpure filters can be fitted to trucks, buses, coaches, light commercial vehicles and earth-moving machinery. The emissions reduction device is housed in a muffler that replaces the original silencer, thereby avoiding having to modify the engine.

Other products from the Feelpure range include the Feelpure FBC (Fuel Borne Catalyst) pioneered by Pirelli in 2004. This original iron-based liquid catalyser is able to guarantee the best environmental performance for urban applications.

The Feelpure AR was introduced five years later, based on aided regeneration technology that guarantees correct functioning of the filtering system for more critical urban applications, thanks to special super-heating glow plugs. This technology was developed by the Pirelli Group for urban as well as stop and go applications, characterised by low exhaust gas temperatures.

The Feelpure Downox was launched last year: a system for the treatment of diesel engine emissions, made up of a particulate filter and a Urea catalyser. This is designed to reduce all polluting agents from heavy commercial vehicles and buses. The Downox allows Euro 2/3/4 vehicles to reach the Euro 5 class for all regulated pollutants, eliminating, among other things, nitrogen oxide: one of the most common pollutants in the air.

All these groundbreaking products showcase the Pirelli Group’s philosophy of effective ecology – ranging from Formula One, which Pirelli is supplying with tyres until 2013, to the commercial vehicles that form an essential part of everyday life.

Feelpure was originally launched in the Italian market before expanding to other major European markets, including Switzerland, France and the UK in 2007. Since 2008 Feelpure has been present in Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, Scandinavia and the Baltic countries, as well as Greece, Poland, South America, Portugal and China – where a Pirelli Eco Technology factory has been built to cope with worldwide demand.

FEELPURE™, the Pirelli Eco Technology DPF system homologated in Portugal accordingly to IMTT homologation rules, does allow a 5 years extension of the truck’s age limit (from 15 to 20 years).

The update of the truck’s circulation documents, to certify the vehicle’s upgrade with an homologated DPF system, was already completed by IMTT, allowing the truck free circulation in Portugal and Europe. This Scania truck is the first step of a wider project involving Pirelli and Transportes Mariano that foresee the upgrade for 22 vehicles from Transportes Mariano fleet.

All vehicles will be equipped with bespoke Pirelli FEELPURE™ technology.

The complete project will be completed in beginning 2011, with installation of the Pirelli DPF systems and upgrade of circulation papers for all 22 vehicles.

Mariano Transportes, thanks to Pirelli FEELPURE™ technology, will benefit of extra 5 years of life for each truck retrofitted with a PIRELLI DPF system for an overall of 110 years of age limit extension for his Euro3 and Euro4 fleets.

PIRELLI FEELPURE™ is the PIRELLI’s wall flow DPF technology for the reduction of particulate emissions from diesel engine vehicles, designed to be integrated into the complete exhaust system of trucks, buses, light commercial vehicles, gensets and off-road equipment from EURO 0 to EURO 4.

Pirelli FEELPURE™ , today, it is the only filter system which has obtained the official IMTT homologation in Portugal.

Today, Pirelli and CIMA, the first inspection company to invest in the most recent technologies for measuring pollution emissions in Portugal, did run a dedicated workshop at CIMA’s center in Poço do Bispo (Lisbon) to explain and demonstrate how both the FEELPURE™ system and the inspection process and equipment work.

Pirelli Eco Technology has been operating in Portugal since late 2008, intending to approach the market needs of particle filters for trucks and other heavy vehicles. Its technology was the first one certified accordingly to the Portuguese rules.

In 2009, following the interest of the Portuguese Minister of Environment for air quality matters and the request of proving the effectiveness of DPF technology on actual vehicles, Pirelli signed a protocol with the Government, the Commission for the Development of the Region of Lisbon and the Commission for the Development for the Region of Oporto, and the IMTT (Institute for Mobility and Terrestrial Transports) regarding the testing and certification of DPF systems on circulating commercial vehicles.

The protocol, signed by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Humberto Rosa, and Secretary of State for Transports, Ana Paula Vitorino, was successfully completed in September 2009 with the official presentation of the results in terms of PM emissions reduction.

«We are proud to support such a key country as Portugal is in its policy of harmful particle emissions reduction» said Pirelli Eco Technology’s CEO Bruno Tronchetti Provera, signing the protocol.

On June 15th, 2009, the IMTT issued a deliberation with the requirements for its approval of DPF systems in Portugal. Pirelli successfully applied for the recognition by IMTT, who tested and promptly certified Pirelli’s DPF systems.

On August 9th, 2010, the office of the Portuguese Secretary of State for Transports emitted a new dispatch (Dispatch nº12771/2010) regarding the incentives of the Portuguese Government for the buying of particle filters. This document, together with the fact that the Portuguese Government have allowed a 5 years extension on the age limit (from 15 to 20 years) for transport trucks equipped with DPF systems, finally decreed the adoption of the particulate filters as one of the most effective solutions for the improvement of the air quality in Portugal. As a matter of fact, Pirelli FEELPURE™ filter extends back to 20 years truck’s age limits.

This is considered as the first strong signal from Portuguese authorities about their position towards the emissions standards improvement for heavy duty fleets (with most relevant polluting emissions) operating on the territory.

Many other initiatives for air quality improvement in main metropolitan areas are under discussion as the introduction of LEZs (Low Emission Zones, already largely adopted in polluted European cities) with severe traffic limits for old polluting vehicles in dense inhabitants areas or highway toll differentiation based on the PM emission level of the vehicles (as per the measure adopted in Germany). Lisbon and Porto will soon introduce LEZs programme. But there are many others councils in Portugal developing and dedicating environmental strategy, among which are Maia, Santo Tirso, and Amadora.

Pirelli incentives cumulative with available public incentives, such as those from the Lombardy Region

Milan, 7 October 2009. The Pirelli Group announces the launch of an incentive plan for purchase of Feelpure particulate filters produced by Pirelli Eco Technology, the Group company that is a leader in systems for containment of diesel engine emissions.

The campaign, which extends throughout Italy, will begin in mid October and end at the end of December, or until inventory runs out, and includes three categories of incentives based on type of vehicle: 500 euros for light commercial vehicle filters (vans, minivans,  minibuses, etc.), 750 euros for midsized commercial vehicle filters and 1000 euros for filters for heavy commercial vehicles (trucks).

The aim of the Pirelli campaign, for those operating in transportation, is to stimulate immediate adoption of the filter systems, which allow for containment of substances damagining to the environment and to health in emissions from the most polluting vehicles. The Pirelli incentives, to be allocated with respect for current regulations regarding adaption of vehicles in circulation, are cumulative with those available from the public administration, for example the Lombardy Region, for purchase and fitting of particulate filter systems.

Feelpure particulate filters remove more than 90% of fine and ultra-fine particle matter  emissions (Pm10 and lower), the most dangerous to human health, and 50% of nitrogen dioxide of emissions. Installation of Feelpure filters allows Euro 1-2 vehicles to reach the Euro 4 vehicle category, and Euro 3 vehicles to reach the Euro 5 vehicle category.

For more information on how to access incentives, see www.pirelliecotechnology.com.

The new factory will require an investment in different phases which on the basis of the evolution of the market could reach 50 million euros over three years, with annual production of around 100 thousand filters and 1200 employees

Beijing, 15 September 2009 – Pirelli signed a “Memorandum of Understanding” with Hixih Group (previously the Yinhe Group), already a partner of Pirelli since 2005 in tyre manufacturing, to build a plant for manufacturing of filters in Yanzhou, in the province of Shandong.

The agreement is linked to the protocols signed today with the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea, the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China and the Municipality of Beijing for distribution of cutting edge technologies for reduction of polluting emissions from diesel vehicles in China. The agreement will allow Pirelli to strengthen and consolidate the presence it has had in China since 2005.

The new factory, whose construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of  2010, will be located in the same area where the manufacturing sites developed by the two partners for production of truck and car tyres were built, and will thus create a diversified industrial hub able to profit from synergies in manufacturing and distribution of the two products.
The plant for particulate filters, both ‘retrofit’ and for original equipment, will be developed gradually. The investment, already included in the 2009-2011 industrial plan, will take into account the evolution of the market and could reach 50 million euros in three years, with manufacturing capacity of around 100,000 filters per year and approximately 1200 employees.

The Feelpure™ filter systems produced by Pirelli Eco Technology are able to reduce particulate emissions from diesel engines by more than 90%, and NO2 emissions by 50%. The systems can be installed on vehicles already in circulation (retrofit), representing an immediate and affordable application, which guarantees significant environmental advantages in a short time.  Following the pilot project launched in Beijing in 2008, the filters produced by the Pirelli Group, thanks to their particular technological characteristics, were recently homologated. The Beijing Municipality has already ordered a significant quantity of Pirelli Eco Technology filter systems which will be fitted on buses in the capital city.

The Pirelli Group has had an industrial presence in China since 2005, when its first factory for truck tyres was built in Yanzhou in the Shandong province. In the same area, at the end of 2007, the Group launched a second factory for manufacturing of high performance car tyres.
With investments amounting to more than 2 billion RMB, or more than 200 million euros, as of today, the industrial site currently uses advanced manufacturing technology and represents a manufacturing, logistics and commercial hub for the entire Asia-Pacific region for the Pirelli Group. Today about 60% of Pirelli’s overall production in China is for the local market, while the remaining 40% is exported to other Asia-Pacific markets.

With a headcount of nearly 2,000 employees, today the two factories produce about 700,000 tyres per year in the truck segment and 2.5 million tyres in the car segment: the industrial plan target is to reach about one million truck tyres and about 5 million car tyres in the 2009-2011 three-year period.

The plan for creating a site for production of particulate filters represents the third phase of development for the Pirelli Group in China and a further step in its international consolidation. Today Pirelli counts 23 factories in 12 countries.

China, in particular, represents one of the most interesting markets for Pirelli, where the brand of the Italian group is rapidly affirming itself. In 2008 the Group photographed and presented the ‘Pirelli Calendar’ in Shanghai, and, more recently, signed an agreement for three-year sponsorship of the main Chinese football championship, the ‘Chinese Super League’, now called the ‘Pirelli Super League’.

Additional agreement signed with Italian environment ministry and municipality of beijing for distribution of particulate filters in the chinese capital city
Beijing, 15 September 2009 – The Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea, the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China, and the Pirelli Group signed a protocol agreement for distribution of technologies for reduction of diesel vehicle emissions in China. The signing took place today in Beijing, in the presence of the Italian Minister, Stefania Prestigiacomo, Chinese authorities, and the Chairman of the Pirelli Group, Marco Tronchetti Provera.

The agreement is part of the environmental cooperation program launched by the two ministries in 2000, with implementation of more than 90 cooperation projects for containment of environmental impact through development and distribution of cutting edge Italian technologies.

The agreement foresees collaboration among the three parties in development of projects for distribution of filter systems for reduction of particulate emissions from diesel vehicles already in circulation (‘retrofit’) and introduction of technologies and advanced products, as the Pirelli products have been shown to be following tests and pilot projects already completed.

Technologies for containment of vehicle pollution represent one of the most promising markets in China, given the growing attention that the local institutions are reserving to environmental problems. A joint commitment by the Italian environment ministry and the Chinese environmental protection ministry will focus on the five provinces recently singled out by the Chinese government for adoption of measures to limit circulation of polluting vehicles, among which Shandong (the location of the Pirelli plant) alone counts more than 100 million inhabitants, for distribution of filter systems of Pirelli Eco Technology, as already done in Beijing.

The second protocol agreement signed today by the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea, the Municipality of Beijing, and Pirelli Eco Technology to support installation of filters on polluting vehicles circulating in Beijing, is part of this commitment. The agreement follows the completion of a pilot project launched in 2008, which brought homologation of the filters produced by the Pirelli Group, thanks to their particular technological characteristics. The city of Beijing has already ordered a significant quantity of Pirelli Eco Technology filter systems which will be fitted on buses in the capital city.

Milan, 19 March 2009 – Pirelli Eco Technology has begun installing particulate filters on public transportation buses in Piedmont. By the end of September 2009, the Pirelli Group company which operates in the field of emissions control technology will install its filters on 879 regional buses, with the capacity to reduce particulate emissions by a minimum of 90% and nitrogen dioxide emissions by 50%.

The installation is going ahead thanks to 7 million euros appropriated by the Piedmont Region in the context of a plan to improve air quality, with a commitment on the part of GTT-Gruppo Torinese Trasporti in the role of lead company for the bidding procedures and with the collaboration of vehicle dealer Orecchia SpA.

Pirelli technology will thus contribute to reducing the environmental impact of emissions in Piedmont, by raising the standards of buses involved from Euro 2 emissions levels to Euro 5, eliminating about 19 tons of particulate matter per year in the city of Turin and 44 tons per year in the region as a whole. At the end of February 2009, there were already more than 270 filter systems installed on buses in the fleet of the Piedmont public transportation company.

“The choice by the Piedmont Region illustrates the usefulness of the technology created by Pirelli in support of the public transportation company’s commitment to combating particulate emissions,” said Bruno Tronchetti Provera, CEO of Pirelli Eco Technology. “With the simple substitution of the muffler and installation of our filter system, public transportation companies can reach emissions levels foreseen by Euro 5 norms, significantly improving city air quality with benefits for the health of citizens, without substituting their existing fleets, and taking advantage of eco-incentives under the recent auto industry stimulus plan.”

The Pirelli filter system has four main elements: a particulate filter in silicon carbide made up of a honeycomb-type structure that traps the particulate matter, mainly composed of carbon particles of various sizes (the so-called PM10), a silencer which houses the particulate filter, a fuel additive (ferrocene) which allows complete combustion when a temperature of around 250/280°C is reached, and a control unit for controlling the proper functioning of the system.

Pirelli Diesel Particulate Filter systems, called Feelpure™, are produced using silicon carbide, a thermal-shock-resistant ceramic material, and allow for an average reduction in particulate matter emitted by diesel engines of more than 95% and the abatement of 50% of NO2. With this new partnership, Pirelli Eco Technology continues to pursue its growth strategy across Europe. Over the last few months the company has begun sales of its solution in the UK, Germany, Italy and Benelux. Pirelli designs and develops the entire filtering system, made up of a replacing muffler comprising a filter, a catalytic converter (optional) and a regeneration system (control unit and additive). Pirelli DPFs are VERT-tested, homologated by the RDW for the Dutch market, certified LEC for the London Low Emission Zone, BAFU-certified for Switzerland, homologated for Italy and Denmark and are undergoing testing for homologation in Germany.

“We are extremely proud of the partnership we signed with GB Environment Consulting AB” said Stefano Sanchini, General Sales Manager of Pirelli Eco Technology. “GB Environment fullfils our mandatory requests of reliability, after sales service capability, market knowledge and technological skills in the DPF business.”

Göran Blohm, owner of GB Environment Consulting AB, welcomes Pirelli Feelpure to the Scandinavian Market. “Our Company has got offers from many Particlefilter producers over the last year to represent them but all were refused from me, I waited for Pirelli, I followed the development of the Feelpure System and we know today that we represent one of the best and most reliable Particlefilter system in the world based on additive regeneration. We are also proud to see that the Feelpure is approved from VERT (the hardest filter system test in the world )” said Göran Blohm.

About Pirelli Eco Technology
Pirelli Eco Technology is the company within the Pirelli Group active in solutions for sustainable mobility and reduction of emissions of diesel engines with the production of  particulate filters (Feelpure™) and a “white diesel” (Gecam™). Filter systems for buses and heavy vehicles already in circulation (retrofit) are manufactured in the factory in Arese in the province of Milan. A new factory in Romania began manufacturing original equipment filters for cars in late 2008.
For more information: www.pirelliecotechnology.com

About GB Environment Consulting AB,
GB Environment Consulting AB based in the south of Sweden, close to Malmö, is a leading Company in Scandinavia,Finland, Iceland and the Baltic countries for development and distributing dieselcleaning products such as  soot and particlefilter, oxidation and lpg catalysts, sparkarrestors and silencers.
The company is led by MR Göran Blohm, who has a long experience of handling the problems around cleaning dieselexhaust from gaseous pollutions and sootparticulates.
To spread the sales to other Nordic and Baltic countries the company is active searching for local distributors.
Mr Blohm is a member of the famous and wellrespected AKPF ( Arbeitskreis Partiklefilter ), a Swissbased International expertgroup.

Using this new technology SITA will become a leader in clean waste collection.”We have set ourselves high goals” said Eddy de Jong, Fleet Manager at SITA. “With the filters that were on the market we could not have reached this goal, given that those filters function only with high temperature engines. SITA only drives small distances so the filters had to be adjusted to this.  By applying the Pirelli filters SITA is making its next step in terms of durable waste management.”

New emissions limits are required by regulations from Dutch Environment Ministry VROM. These state that only Euro 2 and 3 vehicles with a diesel particulate filter can access the environmental zones, e.g. in inner cities. The amount of soot produced by the SITA trucks with a Pirelli filter will be as low as in Euro 4/5, depending on the age and engine of the vehicle.

“The choice of Sita” – said Niels de Zwaan, Business Development Director of Pirelli Eco Technology for Northern European countries – “demonstrates how the simple substitution of the muffler and installation of the new Pirelli regeneration filter system is effective in combating particulate matter emissions. Our innovative new technology is available in 40 different solutions for garbage trucks, buses & LDVs, and complies with EU norms in terms of pollutant emissions for all Low Emission Zones.”

Pirelli Eco Technology
Pirelli Eco Technology is the company in the Pirelli Group active in solutions for sustainable mobility and reduction of emissions of diesel engines with the production of Gecam, the white diesel, and Feelpure particulate filters. Filter systems for buses and heavy vehicles already in circulation (retrofit) are manufactured in the factory in Arese in the province of Milan.

SITA (Suez Environment)
SITA is a specialist in the area of sustainable waste management. SITA takes care of collection, processing and/or recycling of many different kinds of waste: common waste, company waste, glass, paper and cardboard. But also: confidential information carriers, hazardous waste and specifically hospital waste. SITA is also active in street cleaning and for soil decontamination, sewer control and maintenance. SITA The Netherlands employes some 2.400 people at 40 sites.

Organisation – SITA is part of SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT, the water and waste part onf industrial group GDF SUEZ. Due to the merger between Gaz de France and SUEZ to become GDF SUEZ, the water and waste activities were given a separate quotation on the Paris Stock Exchange as SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT.

The Pirelli Diesel Particulate Filters, called Feelpure™, allow an average reduction in the particulate matter emitted by diesel engines of more than 95% and are made of silicon carbide, a thermal-shock-resistant ceramic material. Pirelli designs and develops the entire filtering system, made up of a replacing muffler comprising a filter, a catalytic converter (optional) and a regeneration system (control unit and additive).The Pirelli DPF are VERT-tested, homologated by the RDW for the Dutch market, certified LEC for the London Low Emission Zone, BAFU-certified for Switzerland and are undergoing testing for homologation in Germany, Italy, and Austria.

“We are extremely proud of the partnership we signed with Topcats” said Stefano Sanchini, General Sales Manager of Pirelli Eco Technology. “Topcats, with its long and solid tradition in the DPF business, perfectly fullfils our mandatory requirements of reliability, after sales service capability, market knowledge and technological skills.”
“The management of Topcats fully supports the words of Mr. Sanchini” said Henk Rens, Director of Topcats. “Our experience of the retro-fit market and the new Pirelli technology is the perfect combination to support all customers with highly efficient filter systems. The direct lines and the excellent relationship with dealers and fitters throughout the Benelux guarantee the highest quality with a very compatible price strategy. This pricing makes the investment even for dated machinery valuable”.

About Pirelli Eco Technology
Pirelli Eco Technology is the company within the Pirelli Group active in solutions for sustainable mobility and reduction of emissions of diesel engines with the production of particulate filters (Feelpure) and a “white diesel” (Gecam). Filter systems for buses and heavy vehicles already in circulation (retrofit) are manufactured in the factory in Arese, in the province of Milan, and in Romania. For more information: www.pirelliecotechnology.com

About Topcats
Topcats is a division of TCI b.v.. Founded in 2000, Since 2005 located in Lelystad (logistic centre of Holland), all shares are owned by the present management. The group concentrates on automotive-environmental products p.e. catalysts and Heavy-Duty particulate systems. Another division, Topdek Alternateak, supplies the yachting industry with a PVC based artificial teak product. The large stock facilities enable direct sending of the total product range which consists of catalytic converters, DPFfilters, frontpipes, flexes, bends and tubes, Topdek Alternateak and adhesives within 24 hours.

Pilot project launched ahead of Olympic Games

The Italian Ministry for the Environment signed an agreement with the Municipality of Beijing to launch a pilot project in the Chinese capital for testing particulate filter technology developed by Pirelli Eco Technology, able to reduce by more than 95% particulate emissions from diesel engines.

The agreement, signed today in Beijing by Shi Hanmin, Director of the Environmental Protection Bureau of Beijing and Corrado Clini, Director General of the Italian Ministry for the Environment, in the presence of Marco Tronchetti Provera, Chairman of the Pirelli Group, calls for installation of Pirelli filter systems on heavy duty vehicles (mainly buses, but also trucks and later snowploughs and tractors) used by the local public transportation company. The first filter systems will be installed before the start of the Olympics, and the rest after the Summer.

This project is part of a wider Sino-Italian Collaboration Program for Environmental Protection – begun in 2000 – which has realized more than 80 projects for elaboration and experimentation of advanced technology solutions for sustainable development in China.

Ahead of the Beijing 2008 Olympics, the Italian Ministry for the Environment has strengthened its cooperation with the Beijing Municipality and has supported the city in its “Green Olympics” Program with numerous projects in mobility and sustainable urban planning, monitoring and control of air and water pollution, prevention of sandstorms, and environmental education.

This new project launches a pilot test in China of Pirelli’s particulate filter technology. The filter systems designed in Italy can be installed on vehicles already in circulation (retrofit), and represent a solution that can be applied immediately and inexpensively, which guarantees considerable environmental advantages very quickly. Pirelli particulate filters are currently fitted on public transportation vehicles, company cars, and private vehicles in various Italian cities. Since 2008, the Company has also started marketing its filter systems in Germany, the Netherlands and Britain. In the second half of this year, in addition, the new factory in Gorj (Romania) will begin production, mainly dedicated to original equipment filters for automobiles. In addition, the joint-venture agreement Pirelli is currently negotiating with Russian Technologies includes the possible start of particulate filter manufacturing in Russia.

The Italian Minister for the Environment, Stefania Prestigiacomo, emphasized that “The agreement represents not only a way of reducing particulate emissions and protecting the environment, but also bears witness to technological innovation in the environmental field realized by Italy and exported to China and around the world. The environmental cooperation with China, one of the most demanding programs of this Ministry, has, in fact, a goal of supporting an effective strategy for global protection of the environment, inserting itself positively into the rapid evolution of Chinese environmental policy, and placing itself as an example of Italian excellence in public-private cooperation.”

“The theme of air quality” – commented Marco Tronchetti Provera, chairman of the Pirelli Group -is by now vital to all the main cities around the world, due to traffic congestion. We are finding, in Italy as in Europe and in other countries around the world, growing attention by public administration authorities to policies and technologies that can help reduce polluting emissions. We are pleased that the city of Beijing has decided to test our solution and we hope that this pilot project will be the first step on a long journey together. We are also very pleased with the fruitful collaboration with the Ministry for the Environment, a demonstration of the importance for our country of the union between the public sector’s skill in systemic response, and the technology and know-how of the private sector“.