Thousands of BMWs and Minis are being used as executive cars by a variety of companies as a result of their efficiency and reliability, it has emerged.

According to BMW Group corporate operations manager Stephen Chater, more than 36,000 BMWs and 8,000 MINIs featuring EfficientDynamics and MINIMALISM emissions-reducing technology have been delivered to the fleet industry.

Mr Chater made the comments after BMW won the Industry Supplier Award for 2009 from the Energy Saving Trust during the conservation orgsanisation's Fleet Hero Awards.

"We are absolutely delighted to have won this award and that the Energy Saving Trust has recognised our commitment to reducing emissions in business fleets," he said.

The carmaker, whose models are popular among London luxury car hire users, revealed that in 2008, cars with EfficientDynamics technology resulted in an estimated 54,000-tonne reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

BMW also scooped two prizes at this year's Scottish Car of the Year Awards, one for the Z4 and the other for its EfficientDynamics programme.

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