American automakers haven’t kept promises to eliminate mercury from new cars, according to two different reports by environmental groups. In 1995, General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler pledged to phase out the use of mercury in electrical switches and lighting. In 2000, however, General Motors and Ford sold vehicles containing 6 million to 9 million mercury switches, though they did reduce the amount of mercury used in some lighting, the enviro groups said. In some vehicles, including Chrysler models, the automakers actually expanded their use of mercury in anti-lock brake systems and other parts. European and Japanese automakers completely phased out mercury in the early 1990s in response to a ban in Sweden.
