Auto Manufacturers Beat U.S. Target For Gas Mileage for Second Straight Year

摘要

Automakers exceeded U.S. government targets for improving gas mileage by "a wide margin" for the second year in a row, the Environmental Protection Agency said. Vehicles sold in the U.S. are on average the most fuel efficient they have ever been, averaging 24.1 miles per gallon for the 2013 model year, a 0.5 mpg increase from the previous year, the EPA said in a report March 25. The improvements show that, for now, the momentum automakers have in reducing the weight of their cars and introducing fuel-saving technology is enough to offset consumers' gravitating back to sport-utility vehicles and away from electric cars and hybrids. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents General Motors Co., Toyota Motor Corp. and 10 other automakers, said it will be a challenge to keep up the pace.