Cars Missing U.S. Mileage Test Targets for First Time Since 2004
The results may make some question the Obama administration auto-efficiency standards.
According to a report, cars and light trucks from 2016 will be the first to fall short of U.S. fuel economy targets since 2004. The report from the NHTSA expects 2016 models to average 32.1 miles per gallon, below the 32.8 target.
2017 is also expected to fall short at 31.8 miles per gallon compared to the projected target of 33.
"If this is accurate, it contradicts what prior reports have said about the industry’s ability to meet these standards and suggests that it might be more difficult to do," said Stephanie Brinley, a senior analyst at IHS Markit Ltd.’s automotive group.
The standards have drawn criticism from automakers, saying the metrics are hard to achieve. General Motors, Toyota, Honda and Volkswagen formally asked EPA (which oversees the system with the NHTSA) Administrator Scott Pruitt to revoke the decision made by Obama to leave the rules intact until 2025.