Greenpeace SUV study news - Greenpeace slammed over SUV study - 2006

Greenpeace has been criticised for spreading misinformation about sports utility vehicles.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) says '4x4s in the City', published by Greenpeace, mixes fact with opinion, and pools inaccurate data from the US to apply to the UK.

The SMMT's chief executive Christopher MacGowan said: "To include five pages of safety data based on a different set of US vehicles, without any supporting evidence relating to either the UK or European market, is clearly irresponsible and misleading."

Mr MacGowan also points out that Greenpeace has ignored the fact that new car carbon dioxide emissions have dropped by 10.7 per cent since 1997 and that more SUVs are bought in rural areas where they are necessary than in large cities.