The Automotive Innovation Alliance, which represents major automakers such as General Motors, Toyota Motor, Volkswagen and Hyundai, criticized the Biden administration’s proposal to raise fuel efficiency standards until 2032. According to the group, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA ) Corporate Average The Fuel Economy (CAFE) proposal is not feasible and could result in fines of more than $14 billion for manufacturers between 2027 and 2032.
The automotive group emphasized that the fines will affect a significant portion of light trucks and passenger cars during that period. In fact, Detroit’s big three automakers, General Motors, Ford Motor and Stellantis (the former parent company of Chrysler), will face approximately $10 billion in fines for failing to meet the standards. in the cafe.
This opposition to the proposal reflects broader resistance to efforts to reduce vehicle emissions and transition to electric vehicles due to cost concerns. Recently, European Union ministers weakened a proposal on emissions from new vehicles.
In response to criticism from automakers, an NHTSA spokesman said the expected fines were in line with the agency’s predictions and noted that manufacturers have the option of using electric vehicles to meet the standards. and avoid penalties altogether.
In June, Stellantis and General Motors paid a record total of $363 million in CAFE fines for failing to meet fuel economy requirements in previous years. The auto group argued that the proposed increase in vehicle prices, an average of $3,000 per vehicle, would discourage sales and contribute to the aging of vehicles on the road, without providing significant fuel economy or environmental benefits. .
While this opposition is reminiscent of the concerns raised about the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal that 67% of new vehicles will be electric by 2032, it is important to note that the criticisms are not the same. Toyota, for example, called the EPA’s proposal unreasonable and excessive by historical standards. These debates continue to shape the future of automotive regulations and the transition to sustainable transportation.
