9 Of 13 Major Automakers' Fleet Fuel Averages Today Lower Than 10 Years Ago - Detroit News

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WASHINGTON -- Nine of 13 major automakers have a fleet-wide average fuel economy that is lower than a decade ago, according to a study released Monday by the Consumer Federation of America. As a result, the Washington D.C.-based group is calling on Congress to stiffen mandatory automobile fuel economy standards. Among Detroit automakers, fuel efficiency declined 0.5 miles per gallon at General Motors Corp. between 1996 and 2005, while the fleets at Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG posted slight improvements, according to the study. Japan's Toyota Motor Corp. boosted its vehicles' fuel economy by 1.5 mpg.

"Improving motor vehicle fuel efficiency is a win-win-win solution that would not only lower consumer costs and help decrease our dependence on oil, but also improve the future prospects of U.S. car companies," said Mark Cooper, the consumer federation's research director. "It is essential that the new Congress move quickly to approve higher fuel efficiency standards in order for these benefits to be realized."

Charles Territo, spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents nine companies including GM, Ford, DaimlerChrysler and Toyota, defended automakers' efforts to increase fuel economy. The auto industry as a whole has made major strides in producing more environmentally sound vehicles, but consumers aren't biting, he said. "Manufacturers offer more than 100 models that have fuel economy over 30 miles per gallon. Yet in all 50 states, consumers purchased more light trucks than passenger cars."

The consumer federation's 13-page report -- "Stuck in Neutral: America's Failure to Improve Motor Vehicle Fuel Efficiency" -- noted that overall fleet-wide fuel economy has barely changed from a decade ago, up only 0.5 mpg.

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