Reactions to the new standards
The long-awaited federal fuel efficiency standards were released today. Here are some official reactions to the 54.5 mpg fleet average for U.S vehicles by 2025.

Volkswagen Group of America:
"Volkswagen Group of America (VW) continues to support a single national standard for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions regulation for 2017-25. However, VW did not endorse the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in part because it believed the compliance burdens were not equitably shared across the industry. Following an initial review, the Final Rule reflects the NPRM by imposing very high GHG reductions on passenger cars, and much lower reductions on light trucks. VW continues to believe that this places an unfair burden on manufacturers focused primarily on passenger cars -- the segment of the fleet already delivering to consumers the most fuel efficient, low CO2 emitting vehicles -- and fails to achieve an equitable burden across the full range of light-duty vehicles. In addition, the Final Rule grants valuable compliance credits to certain fuel-saving technologies while failing to equitably recognize the environmental benefits of others."

Ford and Chrysler responded through the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers:
“The Auto Alliance has called for a single, national program because conflicting requirements from several regulatory bodies raise costs, ultimately taking money out of consumers' pockets and hurting sales. We all want to get more fuel-efficient autos on our roads, and a single, national program with a strong midterm review helps us get closer to that shared goal."

Toyota Motor Corp.:
“As we have said all along, the standards pose a formidable challenge for our engineers and product planners. But our overriding objective has been to avoid state-by-state regulation of fuel economy and greenhouse gas regulations. The agreement reached last year, and the regulations finalized today, are a step in the right direction toward this goal.”

General Motors Co.:
“While the requirements are aggressive, we intend to pursue them vigorously by utilizing our strong history of innovation and technology development. As the rule also provides, however, further assessments and reviews will be undertaken to see if the underlying assumptions used to set the fuel economy and greenhouse gas requirements are achievable and realistic in the years well into the future.”

Adam Lee, chairman of Lee Auto Malls of Maine:
"As a third-generation auto dealer, I can say with absolute confidence that my customers want cars, trucks and SUVs that go farther on a tank of gas. I support the 54.5 mpg standard because it will keep American automakers competitive in the world market, it will keep my customers happy, and it will help me to sell even more cars. Automakers, consumers and consumer experts, national security leaders and environmentalists all back the standards because they will save families money, cut America's oil dependence, drive greater innovation in the auto industry, and improve our environment."

UAW President Bob King:
"These new standards will help propel the auto industry forward by giving American families long-term relief from volatile fuel prices. Lowering the total cost of driving will make automobiles more affordable and expand the market for new vehicles. The standards will also provide certainty for manufacturers in planning their investments and creating jobs in the auto industry as they add more fuel-saving technology to their vehicles. Bringing this additional content to market requires more engineers and more factory workers, expanding employment in the industry."

Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council:
“Everybody is a winner today. Motorists win because they will have much more fuel-efficient cars to drive, thus saving thousands of dollars at the gas pump every year. The auto industry -- and its workers -- win because these standards will spur the creation of thousands of new jobs as well as state-of-the-art vehicles that go nearly twice as far on the same gallon of gasoline.”

Michelle Robinson, director of the clean vehicles program for the Union of Concerned Scientists:
“This is truly a watershed moment. Twenty years from now we'll be looking back on this as the day we chose innovation over stagnation. These standards will protect consumers from high gas prices, curb global warming pollution, cut our oil use, and create new jobs in the American auto industry and around the nation.”

U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich.:
“Of critical importance in the standard is the mid-term review, which will allow all parties to take a step back and reevaluate, making necessary adjustments. In addition, the flexibilities built into the program are of the utmost importance. Finally, and most importantly, this is one national standard. A patchwork of different standards would have been a disaster for the economy.”

Mark Cooper, director of research, Consumer Federation of America:
"This is not only a big win for consumers, it is vital to the U.S. auto industry and the single most important thing we can do to end America's addiction to oil - something President George W. Bush called “a serious problem" - and to improve our national energy security. The many benefits of this policy are so clear that is has garnered widespread support from the public, automakers, auto workers, national security experts, public health advocates and environmentalists."

Erika Nielsen, director of marketing at BorgWarner Inc.:
“Automakers are looking for solutions that provide better fuel economy and reduce emissions while maintaining performance. That means new opportunities for our company, because our turbochargers, variable cam timing, dual clutch transmission modules and other powertrain technologies can help provide cleaner vehicles while maintaining or improving performance.”

Jake Fisher, director of auto testing for Consumer Reports magazine:
“Gasoline prices and fuel economy are clearly on consumers' minds when they go to buy a new vehicle. Our surveys show that consumers are interested in finding new ways to achieve that, like turning to hybrids and other alternatively fueled vehicles. The new fuel-efficiency standard will help provide consumers with a fleet of vehicles that will reduce the bill at the gas station.”

-- Compiled by Vince Bond and Philip Nussel


Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/2012...#ixzz24wmhld89

Ford and Chrysler responded through the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers:
“The Auto Alliance has called for a single, national program because conflicting requirements from several regulatory bodies raise costs, ultimately taking money out of consumers' pockets and hurting sales. We all want to get more fuel-efficient autos on our roads, and a single, national program with a strong midterm review helps us get closer to that shared goal."