| For Immediate Release April 13, 2000 |
Contact: Gloria Bergquist (202) 326-5596 |
Statement by Josephine S. Cooper, President, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, in response to fuel economy legislation introduced today in Congress:
"Today, the 'Advanced Technology Motor Vehicle Fuel Economy Act of 2000' was introduced by Reps. Kildee, Upton, Dingell, Knollenberg, Towns and Levin. Members of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers strongly support this bill. This legislation would foster technology advancements and fleet fuel economy increases through consumer tax incentives and the flexible fuel vehicle credit, and it would provide greater clarity to our public policy priorities through a comprehensive study of fuel economy measures.
"Federal tax credits applied to the purchase of advanced vehicles such as qualifying electric and hybrid-electric vehicles put us on the right track for fuel economy advancements. Today, there is fierce competition among automakers to be first to market with even cleaner, more fuel-efficient cars and light trucks. Vehicles with advanced fuel-efficient technologies are on sale now from automakers, and more advanced technologies are on the horizon. To get these advanced automobiles on the road, it is critical that this technology be attractive and affordable to consumers. Federal tax credits are a great incentive for consumers to buy advanced technology vehicles.
"The flexible fuel vehicle credit is one incentive that has worked. Automakers already offer more than 25 vehicles powered by alternative fuels, including natural gas, ethanol and liquefied petroleum gas. More than one million of these alternative fuel vehicles are on the road today. We have only been limited by the availability of the fuels. Congress needs to extend the flexible fuel credit, because it has been successful in advancing fuel diversity in vehicles. At the same time, the U.S. needs to work on developing the infrastructure to make these fuels more widely available.
"For those who have called for a study of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards in the past, we ask them to join us in supporting this legislation. Since CAFE was enacted in 1975, many policies designed to increase energy conservation have come and gone, with some more successful than others. Meanwhile, our energy and economic situation has changed, along with American lifestyles. It's time to take a fresh look at current and future energy conservation without limiting our study to CAFE alone."
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers is a coalition of 13 car and light truck manufacturers. Alliance member companies have approximately 600,000 employees in the United States, with more than 250 facilities in 35 states. Alliance members represent more than 90 percent of U.S. vehicle sales. For more information, visit the Alliance website at http://www.autoalliance.org/.
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