Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers Wins Environmental Award

Having been at the center of the partnership which ended in the passing of a bill that will phase-out copper from car brake pads by 2025, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers was recognized last week by the California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance (CCEEB) with the 011 Edmund G. Pat Brown Award.

The award comes as a recognition of the efforts made by the auto makers represented by the group (BMW, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo) to promote an eco-friendly approach to their business in California.

Their main achievement was the creation of the legislation, created by California State Senator Christine Kehoe, passed last year, that will require the auto makers to remove the copper from the brake pads they use in cars by the middle of the next decade.

The award will be handed to the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers on April 27, during a ceremony which will witness the attendance of several important figures of the Californian lawmaking corp, as well as representatives from the automotive industry.

"Automakers support sustainable mobility that balances our need for safe transportation with protection of the environment and economic vitality," said Curt Augustine of the Auto Alliance.

"So when we began focusing on removing copper from brake pads, we talked with environmental experts about their concerns, and we shared with them the timeframes required for new auto designs. Through a good dialogue, we found a way to address the issue together to protect both motorist safety and our waterways."