MITSUBISHI has called on the oil companies to play their part in 'greening' the motor car by introducing cleaner fuels. While Mitsubishi and other manufacturers have introduced a raft of new technologies to clean up their vehicles since emissions became an issue, the oil industry has only grudgingly introduced unleaded fuel over the last decade.

The battle continues to rage at a European level, where the European Commission has still to set emissions targets for 2010 and the oil companies and car makers are still arguing about who should make the larger investment to meet those levels.

Mitsubishi managing director Stephen Dixon said: 'All vehicle manufacturers have invested enormous sums in order to meet emission standards, but we have no real control over the fuel we have to burn. There are elements present in UK fuel which are not necessary for combustion and which I am assured could be removed in the refining process. Surely it is time the oil companies should be brought into the equation rather than these continued attacks on our industry.'