Bush Announces New Auto Fuel Effiency Rules

Critics say slight increase in fuel effiency standards excludes large SUVs and trucks and provides loopholes for automakers to continue making gas guzzlers.

1 minute read

August 24, 2005, 10:00 AM PDT

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech


"The new system would continue to exempt large sport utility vehicles and trucks weighing more than 8,500 pounds -- such as the Hummer H2 and the Ford Excursion -- from fuel economy standards because they are considered commercial vehicles, even if they are not used as such.

The new rules are considered a victory for Detroit automakers, who have argued the current system penalizes them because many of their top sellers are larger pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. Japanese automakers have had an easier time meeting the fleet-wide standard because they sell more cars and produce smaller trucks and SUVs."

Thanks to Abhijeet Chavan

Tuesday, August 23, 2005 in The San Francisco Chronicle

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