LONDON, December 22 /PRNewswire/ -- You are invited to the launch of 'ECO Drive', a national campaign by Ford Retail Group in partnership with the Energy Saving Trust to encourage eco driving amongst the British public. Either before or after the media briefing, journalists can take part in a 45 minute ECO Drive lesson. You will experience firsthand the effectiveness and ease in adopting 'green' driving techniques which will save you fuel and money as well as cut CO2 emissions.

In an initiative that is the first of its kind in the UK, Ford Retail, the country's largest Ford dealer group, is offering customers and the public green advice and eco driving lessons. A pilot scheme has shown that the average motorist can make fuel savings of GBP200 to GBP250 per annum and cut their CO2 emissions by at least 15%. At the same time, by adopting eco driving techniques, driving is made less stressful, accident rates are cut and wear and tear on vehicles reduced.

Working with the Energy Saving Trust, 38 dealerships across Ford Retail's network will run 'ECO Drive' events from w/c 12th January 2009 giving expert advice to motorists on how to increase the miles per litre they get from their car. Attendees will receive practical guidance about 'eco driving' techniques and able to sign up for an ECO Drive lesson with a specialist Energy Saving Trust instructor.

ECO Drive events will be hosted by the following Ford Retail owned dealership brands: Dagenham Motors (London and south east), Polar Ford (Yorkshire and North West), Heartlands Ford (Birmingham) and Brunel Ford (Bristol and south west). The events are expected to be popular and over 900 people will benefit from taking ECO Drive lessons.

Date: 13th January 2009; Time: 12.00 coffee, briefing and QA, 12.45 photo call and interviews, 10.30, 11.15, 13.30 or 14.15 for individual ECO Drive lessons; Venue: Dagenham Motors, Ford House, Ripple Road, Barking, Essex, IG11 9PG; Who: Chris Hayden, Chairman and Chief Executive, Ford Retail; Nigel Underdown, Head of Transport Advice, Energy Saving Trust; RSVP: Charles Arbuthnot Tel: +44(0)1473-326402, Email: charles.arbuthnot@projectpr.biz stating your preferred lesson time (10.30; 11.15; 13.30 or 14.15).