Tuesday May 19, 06:02 PM
Obama announces landmark auto standards
WASHINGTON (AFP) - President Barack Obama on Tuesday announced "historic" efficiency and greenhouse gas pollution curbs for US cars and light trucks, in a rare moment of unity between auto giants and environmentalists.
"In the past, an agreement such as this would have been considered impossible," said Obama at an event in the White House Rose Garden.
"That is why this announcement is so important, for it represents not only a change in policy in Washington, but the harbinger of a change in the way business is done in Washington."
The first-ever US nationwide standards to combat greenhouse gases pollution for automobiles will force struggling US automakers to dramatically boost the efficiency of cars and light trucks by 2016.
New standards will push the fleet average fuel consumption for US vehicles to 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016 (15.44 kilometers per liter) -- four years sooner than is required by current US law.
Most passenger cars must reach 39 miles per gallon by 2016 and light trucks will be required to satisfy fuel consumption regulations of 30 miles per gallon.
The program begins with car models made in the year 2012.
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