WASHINGTON (Oct. 1, 2010) In response to the Obama administration's announcement today on setting new fuel economy mandates for the 2017-2025 Model Year, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) issued the following statement:

“America's franchised auto dealers have long supported fuel economy improvements.

“Less than five months ago, the administration issued the most expensive fuel economy mandates ever, estimated to cost industry and consumers over $50 billion. Now, before the ink has barely dried on those as yet unimplemented rules, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency and the State of California have decided to launch a new and far more costly set of fuel economy mandates that would require light-duty cars and trucks to achieve up to 62 mpg on average by 2025. Why the rush? Apparently, California regulators are once again threatening the administration with an unworkable patchwork of state-by-state standards at the expense of one national standard premised on sound analysis.  

“For many Americans, the prospect of being priced out of the car market means being driven out of the job market, so a primary concern for our members is the affordability of basic transportation for Americans. Preventing further job loss, preserving consumer choice and affordability, and improving safety should be primary factors in setting any fuel economy standard.”