xcel
11-19-2006, 09:55 AM
Might make legislators "more friendly" toward tougher fuel-efficiency standards. (http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0611140235nov14,0,3731833.story?coll=chi-business-hed)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Toyota_Sequoia2.jpgBloomberg - Nov. 14, 2006
WASHINGTON - Toyota Motor Corp., Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG were the only automakers to boost U.S. fuel economy from 1996 through 2005, as more buyers turned to sport-utility vehicles and pickup trucks, a consumer group said Monday.
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.'s Subaru stayed the same during the period, and fuel efficiency declined at nine other automakers, the Consumer Federation of America said in a report.
"The market is essentially replacing more fuel-efficient vehicles with less fuel-efficient vehicles," said Jack Gillis, the group's public-affairs director.
Sales fell 3 percent for cars during the period while increasing 58 percent for SUVs and pickups, which generally travel fewer miles on a gallon of gasoline, the group said.
The report comes as Democrats take control of Congress for the first time since 1994, a change that the group said might make legislators "more friendly" toward tougher fuel-efficiency standards. U.S. law requires that automakers pay fines if their fleet of vehicles fails to meet federal mileage rules.
Congress might be more likely to pass proposals such as one by Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) that would raise combined light truck-car standards to an average of 33 miles per gallon by 2016 models, said Mark Cooper, the consumer group's research director.
Auto fuel economy industrywide rose 2 percent, to an average of 25.4 m.p.g. from 24.9 m.p.g. during the 10-year period, the group said in its report. The standard for 2005 models was 27.5 m.p.g. for cars and 21 for light trucks. The truck standard is increasing to 24 m.p.g. by 2011 models under new regulations.
Automakers have increased fuel efficiency by about 2 percent a year since the 1970s, said Charles Territo, a spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Toyota_Sequoia2.jpgBloomberg - Nov. 14, 2006
WASHINGTON - Toyota Motor Corp., Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG were the only automakers to boost U.S. fuel economy from 1996 through 2005, as more buyers turned to sport-utility vehicles and pickup trucks, a consumer group said Monday.
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.'s Subaru stayed the same during the period, and fuel efficiency declined at nine other automakers, the Consumer Federation of America said in a report.
"The market is essentially replacing more fuel-efficient vehicles with less fuel-efficient vehicles," said Jack Gillis, the group's public-affairs director.
Sales fell 3 percent for cars during the period while increasing 58 percent for SUVs and pickups, which generally travel fewer miles on a gallon of gasoline, the group said.
The report comes as Democrats take control of Congress for the first time since 1994, a change that the group said might make legislators "more friendly" toward tougher fuel-efficiency standards. U.S. law requires that automakers pay fines if their fleet of vehicles fails to meet federal mileage rules.
Congress might be more likely to pass proposals such as one by Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) that would raise combined light truck-car standards to an average of 33 miles per gallon by 2016 models, said Mark Cooper, the consumer group's research director.
Auto fuel economy industrywide rose 2 percent, to an average of 25.4 m.p.g. from 24.9 m.p.g. during the 10-year period, the group said in its report. The standard for 2005 models was 27.5 m.p.g. for cars and 21 for light trucks. The truck standard is increasing to 24 m.p.g. by 2011 models under new regulations.
Automakers have increased fuel efficiency by about 2 percent a year since the 1970s, said Charles Territo, a spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.