BASF Catalysts Scientists Receive Society of Automotive Engineers Award for Innovation in Reducing the Environmental Impact of Cars

ISELIN, NJ, June 13, 2007 – A team of researchers at BASF Catalysts has received an E2T Award from the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) for the their work on catalyst technology to meet US Tier 2 emissions standards. SAE established the E2T, or Environmental Excellence in Transportation Awards, in 2000 to recognize significant achievements in reducing the environmental impact of the transportation industry. The key criteria for recognition are innovation, demonstrated significant favorable impact on the environment, improvement over any existing technologies, and public acceptance.

“We are very proud to receive this award,” said Dr. Mikhail Rodkin, Director of Environmental Catalysis Research at BASF Catalysts, “Our R&D team on this program, lead by Dr. Shiang Sung, is dedicated to advancing the environmental performance of cars, trucks, buses and other vehicles and we are gratified to be recognized for that effort by as fine an organization as the SAE.”

The technology for which BASF Catalysts won the E2T Award is designed to enable cost-effective compliance with the Tier 2 emission standards, which took effect beginning in 2004. Under Tier 2, emissions must be 77% to 95% cleaner (depending on the size of the vehicle) than model-year 2003 and earlier vehicles. For the first time, SUVs, pickups, vans, and even the largest personal passenger vehicles are subject to the same national emission standards as cars.

To meet the Tier 2 challenge, BASF Catalysts set out to develop a high- performance and economical catalyst. Company scientists used new materials in the catalyst’s composition that allow it to be placed in a closer position to the engine. By doing so, the catalyst has a strong advantage over the previous state-of-the-art technology in light-off performance. This, in combination with optimized precious-metals use and architecture, resulted in a catalyst technology that can achieve greater than 96% hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) conversions to meet the Tier 2 regulations.

More than 5 million vehicles on the road in the US are currently equipped with this technology; it has removed, yearly, 100 million pounds of HC, 900 million pounds of CO and 100 million pounds of NOx from the environment.

The Society of Automotive Engineers has more than 90,000 members - engineers, business executives, educators, and students from more than 97 countries - who share information and exchange ideas for advancing the engineering of mobility systems.

BASF Catalysts, part of the BASF 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 chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. As a reliable partner to virtually all industries, BASF’s high-value products and intelligent system solutions help its customers to be more successful. BASF develops new technologies and uses them to meet the challenges of the future and open up additional market opportunities. It combines economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility, thus contributing to a better future. BASF has approximately 95,000 employees and posted sales of €52.6 billion in 2006. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA), New York (BF) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

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