THE motor industry is to hit back at the anti-car environmental lobby with a major campaign designed to prove there is a healthy way forward for the car. The campaign will be launched on Friday, April 24, in Chester, the venue for a three-day European Union transport and environment ministers'.

At the meeting there will be a 'green' car exhibition and the campaign, led by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, will lead up to the International Motor Show in Birmingham from October 20 - November 1. The SMMT will also launch its own 'green paper' which will detail all the efforts being made by the motor industry as well as a 16-page Greener Motoring Guide.

While being launched after the Budget, the SMMT believes the campaign can play an influential role in shaping Government thinking with the long-awaited white paper on an integrated transport policy due to be published in May. Inspiration for the campaign came after an opinion poll conducted for the SMMT revealed that the public had a 'disturbing lack of awareness of the benefits and achievements the motor industry had made' in technology and environmental performance.