Higher Fuel Economy Standards would BENEFIT BOTH the US Auto Companies and Jobs in Michigan!

A new University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) study provides clear evidence to support the point I have been arguing on this Blog over the last year: If the US Congress (and especially our local congressional Representative John Dingell) want to support the US auto industry and Michigan auto jobs, they need to require that the US auto industry raise its fuel economy standards!

This new University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute study finds that Detroit automakers would gain market share and increase profits under proposed new fuel economy standards. The study, "The Impact of Attribute-Based Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards on the Automotive Industry," is the first rigorous analysis of the economic impacts of current legislative proposals to raise CAFE under the reformed "attribute-based" structure.

Study findings include:

* Higher CAFE standards yield higher profits.
* An attribute-based CAFE yields greater gains in market share and profits for the Big Three than for the rest of the industry.


For more information:

* Read the full report
* Read the July 24, 2007 press release
* Contact the study author, Walter McManus