Fuel economy standards on trucks and cars
Cars and trucks are different in a lot of ways. The physical built of Chevrolet trucks or cars for example may dictate the kind of load these could carry, amongst others. For that, car dealers across the United States are opposing the federal legislation of the nationwide fuel economy standards.
Instead of just giving the same fuel standard for both cars and trucks, dealers nationwide have proposed an alternative called the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards. This would mean that there would be different standards for different classes of vehicles like cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles.
Earlier this month, a car dealer from Wisconsin had already made an active stand against the nationwide fuel economy standards, Pietroske dealership and National Automobile Dealers Association owner Bob Pietroske.
“There is a fine line between mandating more fuel economy and meeting consumer needs,” said Bob Pietroske, owner of Pietroske GM on Calumet Avenue. His dealership sells GM, Cadillac, Buick, Pontiac, Chevrolet, Chevrolet Truck and Chevrolet Medium Duty vehicles.
Moreover, dealers selling both domestic and foreign vehicles have already joined in fighting off federal legislation that would mandate by 2018 a minimum 35 miles per gallon combined car and truck standard.
“We believe in (establishing) Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards and encouraging fuel economy,” said Pietroske.
If the combined standard would push through, automakers will have to sacrifice the quality of vehicles by significantly downsizing the built. With the alternative legislation, however, automobile manufacturers across the U.S. will be given enough time to put great minds together in order to develop the technology needed for the new standards. This is one of the factors that has to be considered because fuel economy increases would also affect vehicle diversity, safety concerns, and affordability.