Automakers Welcome GHG/Fuel Economy National Program

Look to 2017 and Beyond

WASHINGTON, April 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Automakers today welcomed the final release of coordinated NHTSA and EPA regulations for fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions, saying the national regulations mark the beginning of a new integrated approach to reducing automobile fuel use and carbon emissions.

"America needs a roadmap to reduced dependence on foreign oil and greenhouse gases, and only the federal government can play this role," said Dave McCurdy, President & CEO, Alliance.  "Today, the federal government has laid out a course of action through 2016, and now we need to work on 2017 and beyond."

The regulations provide manufacturers with a roadmap for meeting significant mileage increases for model years 2012-2016, as well as the certainty and lead time necessary to cost effectively add new technology.  When fully implemented, the regulations will result in a 30 percent decrease in carbon dioxide emissions and a subsequent 40 percent increase in vehicle fuel economy.

Automakers are already achieving milestones.  In 2010, nearly 200 models are on sale that achieve 30 miles per gallon or greater on the highway, almost a 50% increase over last year.  As EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said in a speech at the Washington DC Auto Show in January, "2009 marked the fifth straight year we've seen increases in the average fuel economy for cars and light trucks."  This final rule will ensure that this trend continues.  

"A year ago, the auto industry faced a regulatory maze resulting from multiple sets of inconsistent fuel economy/greenhouse gas standards," McCurdy said.  "NHTSA was promulgating new fuel economy standards required by Congress under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, while EPA was preparing greenhouse gas standards under the Clean Air Act.  Meanwhile, California and 13 other states were planning their own state-specific greenhouse gas standards.  When our engineers struggle with changing or conflicting laws, it derails efforts to introduce new technologies with long-term research and development timeframes.  The national program announced today makes sense for consumers, for government policymakers and for automakers."  

The ongoing existence of a national program for motor vehicle fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards for all future model years should be the shared goal of not only the current Administration and the industry, but also Congress and the States, for the benefit of the environment, the public, and the ability of the industry to create and maintain high quality jobs.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers is a trade association of 11 car and light truck manufacturers including BMW Group, Chrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz USA, Mitsubishi Motors, Porsche, Toyota and Volkswagen. Visit www.autoalliance.org for more information.

SOURCE Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers