Industry battles state-by-state mpg - Even new national rule on fuel economy could be tough

摘要

Automakers and their allies are gearing up for an intensive lobbying campaign to convince Washington that national standards for greenhouse gas emissions are better than state-by-state rules. But if national standards are adopted, they are likely to require much tougher fuel economy mandates than the Transportation Department's 35 mpg target. Last week, President Barack Obama told federal regulators to set corporate average fuel economy standards only for 2011 model cars and trucks and to rethink requirements for 2012-15. That move, a senior industry lobbyist said, suggests that the president wants the EPA to develop its own national greenhouse gas rules. Those rules would accompany federal fuel economy standards set by the Transportation Department.