Big Three and Toyota spurn 62 mpg standard

Earlier this week, we posted an article describing the challenges facing the auto industry and the importance of the measures leading up to the establishment of a stricter Corporate Average Fuel Economy rating for all manufacturers.

Currently, several industry players are considering forcing automakers to bring the average fuel consumption ratings of their products down to 47 mpg (5 L /100 km) or 62 mpg (3.79 L) between 2017 and 2025.

Yesterday, a group representing Chrysler, Ford, General Motors and Toyota urged the Obama administration to dismiss the ambitious 62 mpg proposal set forth by 18 senators and several important environmental associations.

They predict that adopting such a standard will reduce vehicle sales by 14% and lead to the dismissal of 250,000 of the US auto industry’s 1,500,000 employees.

Automakers are currently expected to bring fuel consumption down to 34.1 mpg (6.9 L / 100 km) by 2016.

The American legislators will present their bill next September, which will be followed by public consultations until June 2012. They’ve already said that the deadline may be pushed back slightly.


_{Source : The Detroit News}