A coalition of companies and organizations have signed a petition calling on General Motors, Toyota and Fiat Chrysler to reconsider their stance on the Trump Administration’s proposed fuel economy standards.
President Donald Trump previously proposed lowering the required annual fleetwide average fuel economy rating for cars and trucks, which would lower it from 46.7 mpg by 2025 to 40.4 mpg by 2026. This prompted California to set its own future fuel economy requirements separate from the federal standard. The Trump Administration then sought to revoke a waiver that would allow the state to set its own fuel economy regs, leading California to sue the administration over the matter.
GM has sided with the Trump Administration in the ongoing row, joining the so-called “Coalition for Sustainable Automotive Regulation” and backing the looser fuel economy regulations. In addition to GM, Toyota, FCA, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia, Isuzu, Maserati, McLaren, Aston Martin and Ferrari also joined this coalition. Separately, BMW, Volkswagen, Ford and Honda have formed a pact siding with California, pledging to up their fleetwide fuel economy averages to a level closer to the previous standard.
Now a number activists groups have put together a petition decrying GM’s and the other automaker’s support for the looser fuel economy regulations. The petition, which has around 285,000 signatures, was put together by activist group ‘Moms Clean Air Force’ and was signed by a number of environmental, ethical and religious organizations, including the Union of Concerned Scientists, NRDC, Consumer Reports and the Environmental Defence Fund (EDF).
“We need your companies, which represent critical manufacturing jobs and technological leadership for the U.S., to focus on restoring strong national clean cars standards and state authority to limit tailpipe emissions,” the letter reads. “For decades, these public health and climate protections helped clean up air pollution from coast to coast, while supporting the development of the safest, most efficient vehicles American families have ever known.”
The letter was sent to GM CEO Mary Barra, along with FCA CEO Mike Manley and Toyota CEO James Lentz. GM has not yet publicly responded to the petition, nor have FCA or Toyota. The petition can be read in full at this link.
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Comments
Lol, bunch of Civic, Subaru and mopad buyers gonna “teach” GM…..
Do as I say, not as I do Marxists…. they need to go get real jobs.. “activists”…. cowards….
Another complete click-bait non-story. Any group of moms can start some petition online, woohoo, big whoop. Today’s popular idea that you can mob-shame and “cancel” people into oblivion is so lazy and stupid, but it gives people this faux sense of accomplishment and moral fulfillment.
If you’re so bent out of shape, go buy a VW Tiguan or a Bimmer…have fun swallowing those repair bills.
Mob shame is 100% what is going on these days. Movement is worse than the problem.
All of these victim fool groups (moms and “ists”) can vote so they do hold a lot of power. It is why our beloved republic is on a precipitous fall.
If some of these car companies want higher fuel standards. They could build cars to higher standards. They don’t need a regulation to do this.
Activists and lobbyists are some of today’s biggest parasites on society.
I certainly would have signed it – if I had known about it? The petition wasn’t online as far as I know.
Anyway, I’m sure most sane people in the world we live in today would understand the need for less pollution & would gladly join forces in reducing the effects of climate change.
I’m sorry Mary Barra, Since you sided for Trump’s lowering of fuel economy standards, I will not be buying another GM electric car from you. You forced me to look elsewhere. You just lost a good and faithful 15+ year customer. For someone who claims to go all-electric by 2030 your siding with Trump’s lower fuel economy standards disgusts me and does not make sense. You say you are for the environment yet you do this? My next electric car will be the Ford Mustang Mach-E, because Ford sided with higher fuel economy standards. Good Bye.
@Jeff,
See ya, pal! If you’re willing to place a business stance on government regulations over 15 years of solid ownership experiences and a plethora of promising new electric vehicles just over the horizon, than I feel for you.
And by the way, just so you’re aware, GM has a higher corporate fleet MPG rating and lower corporate fleet CO2 emissions than Ford does, per the most recent 2020 EPA press release. But don’t let those facts get in the way of your virtue-signaling retreat from GM vehicles…enjoy that Mach-E!
Dear G8Burnout, If GM is so far ahead in MPG and CO2 than Ford then why support lowering the standards. It’s becuase GM is not that far ahead of Ford. You’re right about the EPA report, however the differences are very slight and Ford and GM are still near the bottom of the heap:
MPG GM = 23
MPG Ford = 22.4
CO2 GM = 386
CO2 Ford = 397
All other car manufacturers did better than GM and Ford, except for FCA.
I commend Ford for coming out with an all-electric Mustang Mach-E SUV that can get 300 mile range for around $55,000 (still not as low as the Tesla Model Y at $49,990) and for supporting the higher fuel economy standards. It shows Ford is now really trying to change their ways. On the other hand, GM is floundering in the all-electric SUV market. Where is GM’s promissed 370 mile range all-electric SUV called the Buick Enspire for 2020? It disappeared into thinning air. GM still does not have an all-electric SUV.
I drive an old Chevy Suburban with a thirsty V8. I don’t care about fuel economy or how much carbon I put into the air. I love big horsepower especially in a tough truck and I always get lots of looks when I’m out on the road. My Suburban ticks all the boxes and she feels rock solid. Too bad they don’t make these anymore.
Not everyone wants an EV plus the grid system will need Billions for an upgrade and charging will Not be Free.
You see, John, that’s why we have governments.
What, to waste our money, steal even more of it, and ruin everything they touch?