Shell Launches New Fuel: No Other Gasoline Protects Better

HOUSTON, March 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Shell, the no. 1 selling brand of gasoline in the U.S., is launching its NEW Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines today to address the increasing need for engine protection. With advanced engine technologies coming to the market and with consumers holding on to their existing vehicles longer, it is becoming increasingly important for consumers to protect their vehicles, which is typically their second largest investment.

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Carbon deposit build-up or "gunk" on critical engine parts is the result of various chemical processes that occur in the engine during its normal operation. The engine gunk can make your engine less efficient over time by acting like a sponge absorbing and trapping gasoline on intake valves, and impairing the flow of gasoline through fuel injectors.

The new formulation from Shell delivers 20 percent more active cleaning agents than before, designed to protect the engine's intake valves and fuel injectors from performance-robbing gunk. So no matter what you drive, no other gasoline protects your engine better than the NEW Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines. 

New patented cleaning agent addresses newer engine technologies
According to industry forecasts, new vehicle production with advanced engine technologies will show sizable increases in the coming years. In fact, in the next four years, J.D. Power and Associates forecast the number of vehicles with direct injection engines to more than triple from the 10 percent reported in 2010(1), while IHS Automotive predicts that one fifth of all North American-produced engines will be turbocharged or supercharged in the next two years.(1)  

These newer engine technologies are generally more sensitive to the build-up of gunk, which can negatively impact the engine's performance even more than in conventional engines. And, newer engine technologies can be subject to greater heat and pressure, which can cause cleaning agents found in lower quality gasolines to break-down and reduce their effectiveness. The NEW Shell Nitrogen Enriched Cleaning System is designed to maintain thermal stability and work under extremely hot engine temperatures, actively protecting the engine against performance-robbing gunk.

Improved protection benefits for consumers holding onto vehicles longer
While newer cars are boasting advanced engine technologies, many Americans are keeping their existing cars even longer. According to a recent analysis of national vehicle registration data, the average length of ownership has increased more than 50 percent in the last decade with the average age of vehicles on the road up to almost 11 years.(2) As a result, consumers are increasingly focused on protecting and maintaining their vehicles and should be more conscious about the quality of the products they put into their vehicles to help protect that investment for the long haul.

"At Kelley Blue Book we've noticed drivers have stretched their length of vehicle ownership in recent years," said Jack R. Nerad, Executive Editorial Director, Kelley Blue Book. "To keep their vehicles running better for these longer periods, consumers should maintain their vehicles by using high quality gasolines that can not only help optimize performance, lower emissions and obtain better fuel economy, but also help prolong the life of their vehicles by protecting critical engine parts."

No other gasoline protects better
"Whether it's a new car with an advanced engine technology or an older one that is needed for continued use over the long haul, today's drivers need protection from engine gunk," said Dan Little, North America Fuels Marketing Manager, Shell Oil Products US. "Knowing this, Shell set out with our research teams and with input from leading automakers and other stakeholders to design a formulation to meet the needs of today's consumer and protect critical engine parts, no matter what they drive."

For those drivers who simply expect the most from their vehicle's performance, especially those with vehicles whose manufacturers recommend or require a premium gasoline, try Shell V-Power® Premium Gasoline. The new formulation boasts the highest concentration of the NEW Shell Nitrogen Enriched Cleaning System designed to clean an engine's intake valves from performance-robbing gunk even faster than regular Shell gasolines.

Shell makes it easier for consumers to save at the pump
Shell recognizes that consumers are concerned with rising prices at the pump and want the most value for their money. Since 2009, Shell has been teaming up with many of the nation's leading grocers to make it easier for consumers to save on high-quality fuels at Shell by redeeming their grocery loyalty card rewards at the pump. And, today Shell has alliances with leading grocers in more than 130 markets coast-to-coast, so it's never been easier for consumers to save at the pump. All they need to do is make qualifying purchases at participating grocery stores by using their existing loyalty rewards card and they earn rewards that can be redeemed at participating Shell stations.

Shell also wants to remind drivers that they can save at the pump by using one of the many Shell payment options designed to address the diverse financial needs of today's consumers. Credit cards, such as the Shell Drive for Five^SM Card, allow cardholders the opportunity to save five cents per gallon on all three grades of the NEW Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines as well as Shell Diesel. The Shell $aver Card^SM is another option that links directly to the cardholder's checking account, providing a hassle free way to save at the pump without incurring fees.

For additional information on the NEW Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines or New Shell V-Power Premium Gasoline, including ways to save, visit shell.us/ontheroad or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/Shell.

Shell Oil Products US, a subsidiary of Shell Oil Company, is a leader in the refining, transportation and marketing of fuels, with a network of approximately 6,000 Shell-branded gasoline stations in the western United States. Another 8,300 Shell-branded stations in the eastern and southern are managed by Motiva Enterprises LLC, a 50/50 joint venture between Shell Oil Company and Saudi Refining, Inc.

Shell Oil Company is an affiliate of the Royal Dutch Shell plc, a global group of energy and petrochemical companies with 93,000 employees in more than 90 countries. [(NYSE:RDS.A) and (NYSE:RDS.B)]

Definitions and cautionary statement
Resources:  Our use of the term "resources" in this press release includes quantities of oil and gas not yet classified as SEC proved oil and gas reserves or SEC proven mining reserves.  Resources are consistent with the Society of Petroleum Engineers 2P and 2C definitions.The companies in which Royal Dutch Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate entities. In this press release "Shell", "Shell group" and "Royal Dutch Shell" are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" are also used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies. ''Subsidiaries'', "Shell subsidiaries" and "Shell companies" as used in this press release refer to companies in which Royal Dutch Shell either directly or indirectly has control, by having either a majority of the voting rights or the right to exercise a controlling influence. The companies in which Shell has significant influence but not control are referred to as "associated companies" or "associates" and companies in which Shell has joint control are referred to as "jointly controlled entities". In this press release, associates and jointly controlled entities are also referred to as "equity-accounted investments". The term "Shell interest" is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect (for example, through our 24% shareholding in Woodside Petroleum Ltd.) ownership interest held by Shell in a venture, partnership or company, after exclusion of all third-party interest.
 
This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Royal Dutch Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Royal Dutch Shell to market risks and statements expressing management's expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as ''anticipate'', ''believe'', ''could'', ''estimate'', ''expect'', ''intend'', ''may'', ''plan'', ''objectives'', ''outlook'', ''probably'', ''project'', ''will'', ''seek'', ''target'', ''risks'', ''goals'', ''should'' and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Royal Dutch Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this press release, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell's products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments including potential litigation and regulatory measures as a result of climate changes; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; and (m) changes in trading conditions. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional factors that may affect future results are contained in Royal Dutch Shell's 20-F for the year ended 31 December, 2010 (available at www.shell.com/investor and www.sec.gov - opens in new window). These factors also should be considered by the reader.  Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this press release, 5 March 2012. Neither Royal Dutch Shell nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. There can be no assurance that dividend payments will match or exceed those set out in this press release in the future, or that they will be made at all.
 
We use certain terms in this press release, such as resources, that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) guidelines strictly prohibit us from including in filings with the SEC. U.S. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov - opens in new window. You can also obtain these forms from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330

(1) "Fewer cylinders mean winners and losers among suppliers" Automotive News (July 25, 2011)
(2) Data from Polk's analysis of the national vehicle registration database (January 17, 2012)

SOURCE Shell Oil Company