Beijing, China, December 12, 2008 – BASF was recently the only multinational emission control technology provider at China's most important engine event, the 8th International Exhibition on Internal Combustion Engines (ENGINE CHINA) in Beijing.  BASF Catalysts displayed its wide range of emission reduction products to meet increasing market demands.

Participants in the event included domestic and international diesel engine manufacturers, automotive parts suppliers, developers of fuels and lubricants for engines, and computer software designers focusing on engine design, testing and diagnosis.

“China continues to be one of the world’s fastest growing automotive markets, and along with this development comes a renewed focus on environmental impact,“ said Lothar Laupichler, Director, Mobile Emissions Catalysts, Asia-Pacific, BASF Catalysts. “We are glad that BASF Catalysts is able to provide cost-effective, regulatory compliance solutions to the China market for light duty gasoline and diesel engines, heavy duty diesel engines, motorcycles, and small engines through our manufacturing and product development facilities in Shanghai."

The Chinese government has taken a number of steps in the past five years to reduce pollution, and thereby enhance air quality, creating a growing need for advanced emission control technologies. China’s Stage 3 emissions standards came into full effect in 2007, and Stage 4 emissions standards will take effect in 2010. The development of exhaust gas after-treatment technologies is also underway. China has also published and implemented emission standards for diesel engines for non-road use, as well as for tri-wheel and low-speed goods delivery vehicles. Emission standards for general-purpose small gasoline engines are also expected to be announced shortly.

Among BASF’s cost-effective emission-control technologies on display during the four-day exhibition were:

• BASF’s SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) catalyst: The SCR catalyst comprises a catalytically active component coated on a ceramic honeycomb. When a reductant, such as the AdBlue® urea solution by BASF, is added to the system, the catalyst promotes a chemical reaction that converts NOx (nitrogen oxides) into water and nitrogen.

  Early in 2008, BASF was awarded the Supplier Excellence Award from Yuchai Machinery Company Limited, China’s largest engine manufacturer for incorporating its SCR technology into Beijing transit buses, making them the first mass transit buses in mainland China to meet Euro IV emission standards.

• BASF’s DOC (Diesel Oxidation Catalyst): DOCs were originally developed to reduce total particulate matter (PM), hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide to meet U.S. regulations. BASF Catalysts’ DOCs have millions of miles of proven performance in light duty passenger car, urban bus, medium duty truck and heavy duty truck applications. In 2008, BASF successfully cooperated with a multinational engine OEM to develop a new engine using this DOC technology to meet new Euro V emission standards.

• BASF’s DPX™ catalytic particulate filters: These filters were designed to reduce emissions of PM from diesel engines for new vehicles or retrofitted for use on existing vehicles. The filters first trap particulates and then use a patented catalytic technology to continuously burn them at normal diesel operating exhaust temperatures.

The event, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of internal combustion engines in China, was sponsored by a number of major Chinese industrial organizations, including the China Machinery Industry Federation, China North Industries Group, China Shipbuilding Corporation, China Southern Locomotive & Rolling Stock Industry Corporation, the China Machinery Industry Association and the China Association of Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers.

About BASF
BASF’s Catalysts division is the world’s leading supplier of environmental and process catalysts. The group offers exceptional expertise in the development of technologies that protect the air we breathe, produce the fuels that power our world and ensure efficient production of a wide variety of chemicals, plastics, adsorbents and other products.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from oil and gas to chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals. As a reliable partner BASF helps its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF has more than 95,000 employees and posted sales of almost €58 billion in 2007. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.