fuel economy standards

Our Latest Automaker Rankings: What The Industry Needs to do to Keep Moving Forward

, senior vehicles analyst

June 7, 2018 9:59 AM EDT

Every few years, UCS takes a look at the auto industry’s emission reduction progress as part of our Automaker Rankings series of reports. This year’s analysis, based on model year (MY) 2017 vehicles, shows that the industry has once again reached the lowest levels yet in both smog-forming and global warming emissions from new vehicles, despite the fact that many off-the-shelf technologies are deployed in less than one-third of all new vehicles.  Unfortunately, this record-setting trend in progress also shows some indications of slowing down, with Ford and Hyundai-Kia showing no progress towards reducing global warming emissions, and Toyota actually moving backwards.

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Regulators Should Think Twice Before Handing Out Pollution Credits for Self-Driving Cars

, research and deputy director, Clean Vehicles

May 3, 2018 3:04 PM EDT

A new report out by Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) suggests that automakers should get credits towards meeting emission and fuel economy standards for connected and automated vehicles (AVs) and related advanced driver assist systems—technologies that may or may not save any fuel. Doing so would not only increase pollution and fuel use, but would seriously undermine the integrity and enforceability of regulations that have delivered enormous benefits to our environment, our pocketbooks, and our national security.  Read more >

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Automakers Turn to Climate Deniers in Quest to Lower Fuel Economy Regulations

, senior vehicles analyst

March 19, 2018 3:49 PM EDT

Last month, the Alliance for Automobile Manufacturers submitted a report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration/Department of Transportation calling into question impacts of climate change and tailpipe pollutants in an effort to undercut the need for fuel economy regulation.  The Alliance is the trade group for Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, and Toyota, among others.  The report funded by the Alliance was written by industry shills with ties to the Heartland Institute and General Motors, and it flies in the face of automaker claims by the likes of Ford and Toyota that they are taking climate change seriously. Read more >

iStockphoto.com/mccaig
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iStockphoto.com/mccaig

Latest EPA Automaker Reports Show Compliance with and Success of Standards

, senior vehicles analyst

January 11, 2018 3:01 PM EDT

EPA released its annual reports on new passenger vehicles. One report highlights the historical trend in fuel economy for cars and trucks over time, while the other report discusses the progress of manufacturers towards meeting global warming emissions regulations now under attack by industry and this administration. Taken together, the key findings from both reports are clear:  1) every type of vehicle is getting more efficient, driven by strong standards, and that’s great news for consumers; 2) despite a meager overall improvement in fuel economy, manufacturers continue to comply with the standards; and 3) there’s still a huge opportunity for future fuel economy improvements, as manufacturers continue to bring newly redesigned vehicles to market. Read more >

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Vehicle pollution is a major issue for human health and the environment.

Automakers’ Long List of Fights Against Progress, and Why We Must Demand Better

, senior vehicles analyst

December 6, 2017 11:43 AM EDT

Today, we are releasing a report documenting the long, sordid past of the auto industry, who has fought regulation tooth and nail at every turn. From pollution control to seatbelts and air bags to fuel economy, the industry has spent the vast majority of the past 7 decades doing whatever it can to wriggle out of government regulations, at the expense of the American public. Read more >

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