U.S. sets new efficiency rules

The U.S. federal government has announced new nationwide rules for automobile emissions and mileage standards. The rules, which will take effect in 2012, aim to improve fuel efficiency for cars and light trucks by 40% and require a fleet mileage rule for cars and light trucks of 57.13 miles per liter by 2016. According to reports, environmentalists considered the program a long-overdue tightening of emissions and fuel economy standards after “decades of government delay and industry opposition” while industry officials welcomed it because it would provide a national efficiency standard and a reasonable timetable to meet it. As a result of the U.S.’s move, the Australian government said it is considering mandatory fuel efficiency standards for Australia’s light vehicles, as the country’s fuel efficiency targets are currently only voluntary for carmakers. Analysts in Taiwan, meanwhile, said the new standards by the U.S. government are likely to lead to stricter rules in Taiwan and could impact on nearly all car models sold or manufactured in the country, as Taiwan’s fuel efficiency and emissions rules have always been based on U.S. and European standards. If Taiwan follows the stricter U.S. mileage standards, nearly all cars in Taiwan will need to be improved, the Automotive Research and Testing Center said. (May 18/21/22, 2009)