Background

Autocatalysts based on PGMs were first introduced in the USA on 1975 model year automobiles and in Japan in the same year for pollution abatement. Since 1981 all cars and light duty trucks sold in the US have included catalytic converters as standard equipment.

In fact, the average family car in the US would emit 15 tons of toxic and harmful polluting gases (carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides), over a 10-year life, if catalytic converters were not fitted to all new cars to remove up to 98% of pollution as required by current regulations.

For more information on catalytic converters and emissions regulations, please visit the following links: