Discounts on services for old cars to reduce vehicle emissions, improve air quality

To help ease air pollution in Bangkok, several car manufacturers are offering discounts on maintenance services for old cars as part of a campaign launched by the Automotive Industry Club Federation of Thai Industries, known as the FTI. Deals on car inspections, oil changes and other services will be going on from now until the end of February.

This week, the air pollutant PM2.5 has reached what’s considered “unhealthy” levels, exceeding the government’s safe threshold of 50 micrograms per cubic metre. While air pollution in Bangkok is largely linked to field crop burning in the North, those in the city working to improve the air quality.

The Royal Thai Police have set up checkpoints to check vehicles for black smoke emissions, and a commander even suggested working from home once a week to cut down on vehicle emissions.

For the campaign, the club’s honorary president Suparat Sirisuwanangkura says 7 car manufacturers are joining and discounts will be at 540 participating car service centres in the city.

“FTI is promoting proper maintenance of old cars to boost engine efficiency and help reduce air pollution, especially PM2.5 particulate matter, which is threatening the health of people in metropolitan areas.”

“We expect more than 480,000 vehicles to participate in the programme. To be eligible, cars should either have a diesel or petrol engine, be over seven years old and should have been registered within Bangkok and its perimeter.”

SOURCE: Nation Thailand

Catch up with the latest daily “Thailand News Today” here on The Thaiger.