OREANDA-NEWS. EDP, SEAT and Volkswagen-Audi Spain signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that aims at promoting the development of CNG vehicles and the infrastructures that are necessary to foster the use of this alternative fuel. CNG allows users to achieve significant cost savings and considerably reduces vehicle emissions in comparison to traditional fuels.

The agreement, which is valid for two years and extendable through the express accord of all parties involved, was signed today in Bilbao by the CEO of EDP Spain, Miguel Stilwell; the Vice-president for Government and Institutional Relations of SEAT and Volkswagen Group in Spain, Ram?n Paredes; and the President of Volkswagen-Audi Spain, Francisco P?rez Botello.
The signing of this agreement took place in the framework of the strategy shared by the three companies that aims at fostering sustainable mobility through the use of alternative fuels, such as natural gas, in order to promote the fight against climate change and improve air quality in cities.

Accordingly, EDP, SEAT and Volkswagen-Audi Spain will collaborate in the development of joint commercial packages that will include CNG-propelled vehicles, refuelling infrastructure and CNG supply. In parallel, they will also launch several initiatives to attract new customers.

In addition, the agreement foresees the development of commercial offers for the car rental industry, focused on renewing their fleets with CNG vehicles. Furthermore, the three companies will develop joint sustainable mobility demonstration projects, in which SEAT and Volkswagen-Audi Spain will supply CNG vehicles while EDP provides the necessary refuelling infrastructure.

Similarly, the three partners will coordinate several activities to raise public awareness on the benefits of Natural Gas Vehicles, whether those initiatives are developed by the companies themselves or through a partnership with industry organisations or public administrations. They will also map the geographical distribution of CNG infrastructures.

By virtue of this agreement, SEAT and Volkswagen-Audi Spain will develop commercial offers for their CNG vehicles that will adapt to the fleet renewal plan developed by EDP. Moreover, the three companies will study installing several CNG public refuelling points at car-dealers of special relevance.

The CEO of EDP Spain, Miguel Stilwell, said: "Our commitment to sustainable mobility is constantly moving forward. We have already opened the first CNG refuelling point in the Basque Country, and we are already working to launch several others. Our natural gas distributor is the first company to have its entire fleet of vehicles running on environmentally friendly fuels."

Meanwhile, the Vice-president for Government and Institutional Relations of SEAT and Volkswagen Group in Spain, Ram?n Paredes, highlighted the user benefits brought by CNG. "Compressed Natural Gas is a safe, sustainable fuel that involves substantial cost savings, since its price is well below that of traditional fuels. It can mean saving up to 30% in the case of diesel vehicles, and up to 50% in the case of gasoline vehicles", he assured.

On the other hand, the President of Volkswagen-Audi Spain, Francisco P?rez Botello, stressed out the positive aspects of NGV from an environmental perspective, "because the use of this type of fuel in cars reduces carbon emissions by up to 25% compared to gasoline, and by over 85% in the case of NOx emissions when compared to diesel".

EDP is a Spanish leading company in the energy sector, with presence in the electricity and gas generation, distribution and commercialisation segments. With a commercial portfolio of over two million clients throughout the country, it has its own energy generation and distribution infrastructures, in both the electric and the gas markets. EDP is the leading gas company in Cantabria and the Basque Country, as well as in Asturias, where it is also the leading electricity operator. Its electricity, gas and renewable energies businesses in Spain account for almost 2,000 employees, 6,000 MW of installed capacity and a 30,000 kilometres distribution network. In less than a decade, the Group has invested more than 3,000 million Euros in Spain. EDP Group has a global presence in thirteen countries and holds a leading position in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

SEAT is the only company in the automotive sector with the ability of designing, developing, manufacturing and commercializing cars in Spain. Integrated in the Volkswagen Group, The multinational, which is integrated in the Volkswagen Group, has its headquarters in Martorell (Barcelona). It exports more than 80% of its vehicles and has presence in 75 countries. In 2014, SEAT reached a turnover of almost 7.5 billion Euros, which is the highest figure of its history, delivering 390,500 units worldwide.

Volkswagen-Audi Spain, a company belonging to Volkswagen Group, is the first car distributor in Spain. The organization, which started its activity in January 1993, commercializes vehicles, components and parts from the Volkswagen, Audi, ?KODA and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brands in the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Isles.