The heads of the Detroit Big Three US carmakers are pressing congressional leaders to revisit a plan to increase fuel efficiency standards that automakers say could hurt their industry.
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Leaders of General Motors, Ford and the Chrysler Group on Wednesday were to discuss the impact of health care, trade and energy policies on their companies, and urge Senate leaders at a private luncheon meeting to consider an alternative to a proposed overhaul of Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards for vehicles.
“It looks like within the climate that’s being experienced now, it’s very likely there will be increases in CAFE,” Rick Wagoner said Tuesday in Wilmington, Del., according to a Reuters report.
“I think our concern is, let’s make sure that we also fix the real problems while we’re doing that.”
The Senate is expected to vote next week on a proposal to raise CAFE standards to a fleet average of 35 miles per gallon for a manufacturer’s cars and trucks by 2020, an increase of about 10 mpg over current levels. From 2020-2030, the auto industry would face 4 percent annual increases.
Auto industry officials have called the Senate bill unworkable and resisted attempts to increase the requirements in the past, Reuters said.
But industry officials concede that Congress is likely to impose higher standards this year as consumers deal with $3-plus gasoline prices and remain worried about global warming and want to help shape any new requirements.
In Washington, Wagoner was to be joined by Ford Motor Co. CEO Alan Mulally, DaimlerChrysler AG’s Chrysler Group CEO Tom LaSorda and United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger, the report added.
