Industry to weigh bill on fuel economy rules.

WASHINGTON - Automakers won a last-chance bid to soften the impact of a fuel economy bill before it faces a vote in a key Senate committee next month. Sen. Dan Inouye, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, agreed to hold a hearing on May 3 to give the auto industry an opportunity to voice objections to the bill, which would dramatically increase fuel economy standards. The hearing comes at the urging of Sen. Carl Levin, D-Detroit.