| May 24, 2007 |  |
Automakers Summer Prescription For American Drivers: Higher Gas Prices, More Pollution
Industry Kicks Off Million Dollar-Plus Misinformation Campaign To Scuttle Stronger Fuel Efficiency Standards, Increase U.S. Oil Addiction
WASHINGTON (May 24, 2007) – To kick off the summer driving season this Memorial Day weekend, the auto industry has a message for drivers facing record-high gasoline prices: Pay up!
Despite rising gas prices and the threat of global warming, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers – which represents Detroit's Big Three, Toyota, BMW and four other automakers – will launch a print and radio advertising campaign this weekend to try to convince Americans to oppose stronger fuel economy standards. These standards would save drivers tens of billions of dollars in fuel costs and cut millions of metric tons of global warming pollution every year.
"This misinformation campaign is akin to a drug pusher telling people that cutting their addiction is bad for their health," said David Friedman, research director for the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) Clean Vehicles Program. "Automakers are not giving consumers the 34-mpg SUVs, the 37-mpg minivans and the 41-mpg family cars our nation's top engineers and scientists can deliver, according to the National Academies of Science."
The Senate is currently considering a bill with a 35-mpg average fleetwide fuel economy goal for 2020, but loopholes in the bill mean that this is far from guaranteed. Americans need to call on lawmakers to strengthen efforts on fuel economy and guarantee a 35-mpg fleet in the next decade, Friedman said. The auto industry's radio and print ads, which are targeted at 10 states, encourage people to tell their members of Congress to oppose the bill. They falsely claim that the pending legislation would lead to higher sticker prices and smaller, less safe vehicles.
Here are the facts:
· More fuel-efficient cars and trucks would save consumers money, according to a UCS analysis. A pickup, for example, would only have to reach about 28 mpg if the fleet of all cars and trucks averaged 35 mpg. Improved fuel-economy technology on that truck would pay for itself in less than two years. And pickup owners would save an additional $4,500 on gasoline over the life of the truck.
· Improvements to the Senate bill guaranteeing a fleetwide average of 35 mpg would not affect vehicle size or choice, it would increase the number of higher fuel economy choices. Different standards would be set based on the size of each vehicle. Large pickup trucks would only have to reach about 28 mpg; they would not be required to meet the 35 mpg average. Automakers already have the technology for large pickups to reach 28 mpg. These light trucks would maintain today's performance, size and safety standards.
· An average 35-mpg fleet can be reached while maintaining or improving safety. Studies by Oakridge National Labs, Lawrence Berkeley National Labs, the University of Michigan and Dynamics Research Inc. demonstrate that fuel economy is not linked with increased fatalities. They also found that large vehicles do not have lower fatality rates compared to smaller vehicles, and increased weight is actually associated with increased fatalities.
Projections for mileage driven this weekend nationwide help tell the story of how better fuel economy would save consumers money and cut pollution. More than 32 million Americans will drive at least 100 miles round-trip this weekend, according to AAA. With today's average gas price of $3.23 a gallon, UCS estimates that Americans will spend more than $250 million for nearly 80 million gallons and generate nearly 880,000 metric tons of global warming pollution. If the fleet of cars and trucks on the road today averaged 35 mpg on government tests (up from 24.6 mpg today), drivers would save more than $75 million and cut global warming pollution by some 260,000 metric tons – the equivalent of taking about 9.5 million of today's automobiles off the road.
"Manufacturers already have the technology to increase fuel efficiency for all vehicle classes – from two-seaters to four-by-fours – while protecting jobs and ensuring safety," said Friedman. "And they have the responsibility to reduce our dependence on oil and clean up vehicle pollution."
The auto industry campaign includes radio and newspaper ads in Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. All of the states have high percentages of light truck and SUV owners. (For two sample ads, go to: http://info.detnews.com/audio/index.cfm?id=867 and http://info.detnews.com/audio/index.cfm?id=868.)
The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.
