• July 26, 2011

The industry group Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers has been running radio ads in Washington, D.C., and states with auto production facilities against the the Obama administration's proposed increases to national fuel economy standards to 56 mpg by 2025, arguing that increasing CAFE will hurt business.

But now the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and Consumers Union, which publishes Consumer Reports, have launched an ad campaign promoting the higher standards and saying the increases will "protect consumer pocketbooks, keep the U.S. car companies competitive here and abroad, and dramatically reduce our dependence on foreign oil," said CFA's Jack Gillis, author of The Car Book, in a statement. 

In the radio ad, the voiceover says, "The price of gas is too high. These days more people want cars that go further on a gallon of gas. We have the technology, so why do car makers want to weaken fuel standards that can save you money?" The ad goes on to say that a fuel-economy standard of 56 mpg would save $6,000 over life of car. "If our car makers don't build more fuel efficient cars, you can bet the foreign automakers will."