A key Senate committee chairman unveiled a revised fuel economy proposal today that automakers described as "unattainable."
U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, who chairs the Commerce Committee, unveiled the 19-page bill that would force car companies to dramatically raise fuel economy standards to a fleetwide average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020.
In 1975, Congress told automakers they had to raise passenger car fuel economy from an average of 13 miles per gallon to 27.5 mpg. That standard has remained unchanged as automakers have vigorously lobbied to oppose increases.
"Basically, it is unattainable up until 2020 and unattainable afterward," said Gloria Bergquist, a spokeswoman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the trade group that represents General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co, DaimlerChrysler AG and Toyota Motor Co. "We think this is still going to be a big burden on Americans who need work vehicles."
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