American auto giant Ford on Tuesday launched a new scheme in the United Kingdom, offering car buyers a 2,000-pound (US$2,570) incentive for trading in older vehicles for newer, environment-friendly models. The attractive discount is available on a range of Ford models for customers who trade in their old vehicles registered before the end of 2009.

Andy Barratt, the company’s managing director in the U.K., said removing older, most polluting vehicles from British roads would have the most immediate positive effect on the quality of air.

Announcing the scheme, Barratt said, “Ford shares society’s concerns over air quality. Removing generations of the most polluting vehicles will have the most immediate positive effect on air quality.”

With the launch of the trade-in incentive scheme, Ford has become the latest auto maker to do so in the U.K., joining the likes of Mercedes-Benz and BMW, after months-long procrastination from the government over whether to start a national program to tackle air pollution.