SocraticGadfly: Not all CAFÉ standards are created equal

June 03, 2008

Not all CAFÉ standards are created equal

The new corporate average fuel economy standards passed by Congress last year don’t actually take effect until 2011, but it’s clear that the formerly Big Three have a lot further to go than their Japanese rivals.

Luxury car makers, overall, have even further to go.

For example, Porsche must boost its currently expected 2011 fleet economy by nearly 50 percent or pay federal finds.

Toyota, meanwhile, can afford to become 12 percent more of a gas hog over current projections and still meet federal 2011 requirements.

Also, VW and Subara are penalized for the “footprint” they have in current sales numbers. VW, at least, has indicated it plans to sue.

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