President Barack Obama’s administration altered its proposal for a 2025 U.S. fuel-economy average to 54.5 miles per gallon to make allowances for light trucks, said people familiar with the negotiations.
The White House is pressuring automakers to agree to a framework for a rule, to be released by Sept. 30, said two people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are confidential. The rule is to take effect in 2017.
The new fuel-economy target is a reduction from 56.2 mpg sought in a proposal to automakers including Ford Motor Co. (F) and Toyota Motor Corp. (7203), last month. It may reflect the White House’s desire to reach agreement as soon as possible, the people said. The rule may include credits for some types of technology, said three people with knowledge of the talks who declined to be identified.
“This seems to be how the game is played -- they put a big fuel economy number out there and then introduce loopholes,” said Jeremy Anwyl, CEO of Edmunds.com, a Santa Monica, California-based website that tracks auto sales and pricing data. “They want to try to keep everyone happy.”
Of course it depends on how big those light truck loopholes are. Let's face it, from where I think gas prices will be in 2025, you're going to want your car getting 54 MPG.
Then again, the next time we get a Republican president, these mileage standards go away...and most likely the entire EPA along with it.
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