Automakers to White House: Climate change is real

[Rhiannon12866]

WASHINGTON -- Automakers urged the White House to cooperate with California officials in a coming rewrite of vehicle efficiency standards, saying "climate change is real."

The plea came in a May 3 letter to the White House's Office of Management and Budget from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the industry's leading trade group. It said carmakers "strongly support" continued alignment between federal mileage standards and those set by California. General Motors, Ford Motor Co., Daimler and nine other carmakers are members of the alliance.

"Automakers remain committed to increasing fuel efficiency requirements, which yield everyday fuel savings for consumers while also reducing emissions -- because climate change is real and we have a continuing role in reducing greenhouse gases and improving fuel efficiency," David Schwietert, executive vice president of federal government relations at the alliance, wrote in the letter, which was made public Monday.

The letter came roughly a week before President Donald Trump signaled he was open to talks with California on mileage standards. The direction came after the administration's April ruling that the Obama administration standards for 2022-25 model years were too aggressive and needed to be eased.

Officials from the state have pledged to fight a Trump-led rollback, setting up a potential messy legal battle and the risk of different mileage requirements in California and 12 additional states that follow its rules.


More: http://www.autonews.com/article/20180521/OEM/305219935/automakers-to-white-house-climate-change-is-real



A joint proposal for revised light-vehicle mileage targets from the EPA and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is still in the works and could be released by late May or early June. Photo credit: DAVID PHILLIPS

[Sherman A1]

1. Well,

It’s nice that they are concerned, but they can do this on their own since they make the vehicles. They can either produce an industry standard within their trade group or elect to simply follow the California state regulations all by themselves.

Ford ditching most autos in favor of more trucks and SUVs tens to tell me that perhaps this statement is simply window dressing.

[Rhiannon12866]

3. I think part of it is that they're looking for a uniform standard

And it's not like they just started preparing for this, the Obama led fuel standards have been in the works for awhile now, they were not prepared for a roll back. As for Ford, they'll still be selling cars overseas and they may regret their business decision if gas prices keep going up. As of this week, the majority of stations in my area are at or over $3 - and that's just for regular gas.

[Sherman A1]

4. I agree that Ford may want to rethink their choice as gas prices are going up

With no sighs of stopping. Nevertheless the trade group can easily adopt the California standards, if the Federal Regulators do not, for its members and probably should as it would make the production process easier in the long run.

[Rhiannon12866]

5. Absolutely, we know that it's going to be adopted sooner or later

Despite what Trump wants or thinks (or how long he lasts) and with the price of gas going up daily even the climate change denying Trump supporters won't be able to afford gas guzzlers. And the bottom line is that the auto manufacturers are in the business of selling cars. And I agree Ford needs to get on board.

[safeinOhio]

2. My guess...

Seven dollar gas will fix fuel standards while making Russia, Saudi Arabia and Exxon great again.

[3Hotdogs]

6. Balls to them commies. I listen to Rush and I know climate change ain't real.

[oswaldactedalone]

7. Last time I listened to Reich Wing Radio

they were saying that climate change is real, that this period of global cooling we're experiencing was going to cause extended winters and a disruption of the food supply. Prepare for Global Cooling.