Automakers Fight Fuel Efficiency Standards

Submitted by John Stauber on

The Hill reports, "Automakers plan to attack congressional efforts to raise fuel mileage standards in a series of radio and newspaper advertisements this weekend, the unofficial start of summer driving season. The ad campaign, sponsored by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, focuses on states with a high proportion of truck and SUV drivers to stoke grassroots opposition to a Senate bill that would raise fuel standards for cars and trucks by 10 miles per gallon over the next 10 years. The Senate plans to take up the bill after the Memorial Day recess as part of a larger effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and wean the country off of foreign oil. The auto group plans to spend at least $1 million on the ad buy, a spokesman said. ... Fuel mileage standards for automobiles are currently set at 27.5 miles per gallon, and have not been raised since 1990." The auto lobby has a website at www.drivecongress.com with a toll-free number to get US drivers lobbying Congress against fuel efficiency standards.

Main Source: 
The Hill, May 25, 2007
Topics: 
Advertising
Environment
Lobbying

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Diane Farsetta replied on

[http://www.adweek.com/aw/national/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003590601 According to AdWeek], the Democratic Party-associated PR firm [[Glover Park Group]] is involved in the anti-conservation campaign.

The auto industry takes on the government beginning this weekend with an ad campaign that warns consumers that proposed increases in fuel standards would drive up the price of vehicles.

The series of radio spots and print ads, via Glover Park Group, Washington, will run in 10 states. The ads also state that a Senate bill that would impose a requirement that automakers raise fuel economy by 40 percent by 2020 would make drivers less safe because automakers would have to build smaller cars in order to conform to the mandate.