Deal expected on new fuel economy regulations
It looks like Michigan's senior senator has won a reprieve for his biggest corporate constituents in the new fuel economy bill that's working it's way through the US Senate right now. Following hearings this week where the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee heard from various automaker representatives, Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan got a concession from bill sponsor Diane Feinstein. The regulations would be modified to set different targets for trucks and cars which would give a big break to Chrysler where seventy percent of their sales are light trucks. If they go ahead with this, they should also clarify what counts as a truck vs. a car. One of the reasons why seventy percent of Chrysler's sales are trucks is because the current rules allow them to classify vehicles like the PT Cruiser as a truck rather than a car.
Clearly the PT is not a truck and this loophole needs to be corrected. All the carmakers abuse this rule to some degree, but Chrysler is by far the worst in this regard. A committee vote on the bill is expected next Tuesday.
[Source: Detroit News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Joseph 4:23PM (5/04/2007)
PT Cruiser is classified as a truck?!?!?
This can't be true!!! The government get let lobbying get through their common sense!!!
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Chris M 5:10PM (5/05/2007)
After an initial burst of enthusiasm, PT Cruiser sales have dropped dramatically. The "Retro look" market is nearly saturated, and most people are looking for better fuel economy than any Chrysler product provides.
Yes it is absurd that the PT Cruiser is considered a "truck", but that is typical Washington buerocrcacy at work.
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gsolman6 1:39PM (5/08/2007)
I wouldn't say it is Washington bureaucracy at work but rather auto companies hiring lawyers to find holes in gov't regulations to best serve themselves. You also have to remember that CAFE came about when most trucks were used as work vehicles, something not true anymore. I would really like to see a not so vague definition of "truck" come out of the new legislation, something that would not incorporate SUVs, minivans, and wagons(PT Cruiser, Subaru Legacy) but would capture pickups and some full sized vans used by farmers, plumbers, roofers, etc.
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