If Ya Can't Beat 'Em: Automakers Support 35 MPG Rule
By John O'Dell December 3, 2007 Support for a compromise CAFE fuel economy measure boosting the present national standards of 27.5 miles per gallon for cars and 22.2 mpg for light trucks to an industrywide average of 35 miles per gallon grew over the weekend as Congress prepared to tackle the issue.Even automakers, long opposed to such a dramatic increase, were boarding the bandwagon in the face of seemingly bipartisan backing for the proposal hammered out late Friday after weeks of negotiations. The new standards "pose a significant technical and economic challenge to the industry," General Motors Chief Executive G. Richard Wagoner said in a statement. "But, it's a challenge that GM is prepared to put forth its best effort to meet with an array of engineering, research and development resources."
Toyota, whose Prius sedan is the world's best-selling hybrid vehicle, had joined GM and other major automakers in backed a slightly softer rival measure.
But in the face of the compromise, the company said it "will not wait for new standards to be set, but will move forward expeditiously to apply advanced technologies to improve the fuel economy of our fleet. Toyota will continue to strive to be the most fuel-efficient full-line manufacturer."
Major environmental groups, long used to being on the losing side of fuel efficiency battles, seemed delighted.
"This bill -- unprecedented in its support for clean energy and action to combat global warming – will take America's energy policy in a dramatically different direction," Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope said in a statement.
"We're now in the homestretch and are working hard to make sure this bill gets past the post and on the president's desk as soon as possible."
Congressional leaders have said they hope a sweeping new energy bill, which includes the raised fuel standards, will be passed by the end of the year.
The measure also would continue to award automakers mileage credits -- effectively lowering the actual fleewide average their cars and trucks would have to attain -- for manufacturing vcehicles that can run on biofuels such as ethanol.
Terril Yue Jones, Contributor
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