Automakers Respond To California Waiver Decision

Washington, DC - Automakers responded to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) granting of California’s request to set their own greenhouse gas/fuel economy standards by reaffirming their support for the single, national program announced last month by President Obama.

“President Obama’s decision last month to create a single national program for greenhouse gas emissions and fuel economy standards moves us toward a policy that ensures that consumers in all 50 states have access to highly fuel-efficient vehicles at an affordable price,” said Dave McCurdy, president and CEO, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. “We are hopeful the granting of this waiver will not undermine the enormous efforts put forth to create the national program.”

“The President has succeeded in bringing three regulatory bodies, 15 states, a dozen automakers and many environmental groups to the table,” added McCurdy. “The national program has launched a new beginning, a new chapter and a new era of cooperation. Automakers remain committed to working with all parties to further this single national program administered by the federal government.”

EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have initiated efforts to issue a joint rulemaking that is intended to reflect a coordinated and harmonized approach to implementing the Clean Air Act and the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. The rulemaking is expected to begin shortly and be concluded by March 30, 2010 and will apply to vehicles from MY 2012-2016.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers is a trade association of 11 car and light truck manufacturers including BMW Group, Chrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Motors, Porsche, Toyota and Volkswagen. For more information, visit the Alliance website at www.autoalliance.org.