| The Congress is heating fresh environmental rules | | | | exceeding the fuel-economy standards in a model |
| imbibed in Corporate Average Fuel Economy | | | | year. Said credits can be utilized to cover a shortfall in |
| (CAFÉ) program. Along with the warming of the | | | | the following three years. Japanese automakers like |
| rules is the criticism by Detroit automakers especially | | | | Toyota and Honda surpass the standards. These |
| General Motors Corp. Bob Lutz, GMs vice chairman | | | | automakers are famed for manufacturing |
| said that the proposal would effectively hand the truck | | | | sophisticated interior OEM replacement auto parts for |
| and SUV market over to the imports, particularly the | | | | Toyota and Honda auto body parts. |
| Japanese. | | | | Unfortunately, Detroit automakers like GM, Ford and |
| Lutz's criticism was posted on a GM blog late Friday. | | | | DaimlerChrysler have already used credits in recent |
| Part of the comment suggests that GM will fight hard | | | | years. Auto parts GM are now focused on boosting |
| against any proposal to raise fuel-economy targets by | | | | SUV and trucks of the automaker. This is also true |
| a specific amount. Early this December, chief | | | | with Ford and DaimlerChrysler. The latter is busy |
| executives and retired military generals clamored for a | | | | promoting Edge and Mustang. |
| 4 percent annual increase in standards. They further | | | | Lutz noted, The Japanese automakers "have earned |
| added that their aim is significant for energy security. | | | | years of accumulated credits from their fleets of |
| GM, more than any other automaker, has expressed | | | | formerly very small cars. They can afford to go bigger, |
| its ardent opinion regarding the matter. The former said | | | | which they're doing now by the way, and they'd be |
| CAFÉ rules controlled what automakers could | | | | able to move up and fill the segments we'd be forced |
| build without regard for what customers were willing to | | | | to vacate." He further added, "We don't have any |
| buy. Lutz said the proposed increases would limit GM's | | | | magic 100-m.p.g. carburetor that we're holding back |
| ability to build as many larger vehicles as its customers | | | | because we're in bed with the oil companies. The |
| may demand. Lutz "Season's Rantings" message | | | | Japanese government is spending huge amounts on |
| reflects GMs intention to focus on pickups and bigger | | | | advanced battery research. It would be nice if our |
| SUVs to improve profits in North America. | | | | government would do the same. |
| CAFE rules state that automakers earn credits for | | | | |