Light Truck Owners Group Cautions Against Unreasonable Increases in Federal Fuel Economy Standards

Contact: Ron DeFore of SUV Owners of America, +1-877-44-SUVOA

WASHINGTON, March 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following statement was issued today by Barry McCahill, President of SUV Owners of America (SUVOA):

With the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality in the U.S. House of Representatives set to hold hearings today that could lead to substantial increases in federal fuel economy standards, the SUV Owners of America (SUVOA) warns that aggressive increases in the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards could come with unintended safety and economic consequences for millions of consumers.

All Americans, including owners of light trucks -- pick-ups, vans, minivans and SUVs -- support reasonable steps to reduce harmful effects of vehicle and other emissions, foster less reliance on imported oil, and enhance vehicle fuel economy. But most also expect that federal and state efforts to accomplish these goals are reached in a balanced way that along with energy savings and independence considers -- and values -- family, business and recreational transportation, as well as passenger safety.

History shows that CAFE increases limit consumers' options for vehicle utility functions such as towing, or hauling heavy loads or carrying more than four passengers. Passenger car CAFE standards got so restrictive in the early 1980s that cars became smaller and 99% of them lost their towing ability. Because of this downsizing millions of consumers turned to minivans, SUVs and pickups to get the utility they needed. Farmers, ranchers, small businesses, contractors, boaters, campers, RV owners and families are among the millions of Americans who rely on light trucks and could be adversely affected by another round of unreasonably high fuel economy standards.

History also shows that the passenger car downsizing put occupants at greater risk of death or injury in crashes. Experts say thousands of lives already have been lost as a result and we could lose thousands more if some of the current proposals are forced into law. This tragic inconvenient truth about CAFE has been documented by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the National Academy of Sciences, and investigative analysis by USA Today in their lengthy article, "Death by the Gallon."

Today, consumers have a wide array of vehicle choices many with superior fuel economy. More improvements are coming at a rapid pace. SUVOA believes that improvements should be continuous as a national priority, but done in a way that preserves our unique American lifestyle that includes many facets beyond just the most basic transportation.

The CAFE debate can be boiled down to one simple question: With today's high gas prices, if a reasonably priced 40 mile per gallon full size car or light truck were possible why wouldn't any one of the world's profit-driven companies have already built it? The answer is that it would come with tradeoffs most consumers would not accept -- price tags thousands of dollars higher, reduced performance and/or reduced utility. This is a major reason some lawmakers love CAFE because it appears to be an "easier" political decision than raising taxes on gasoline to directly affect the kinds of vehicles people buy and how much they drive them. But either way, consumers will pay more for to own/operate their cars and trucks.

SUVOA is a non-profit consumer organization dedicated to supporting the rights and serving the interests of SUV, pickup van and minivan owners. Founded in 1999, SUVOA is the voice of and advocate for light truck owners from unfounded attacks by special interest groups and unwarranted government regulation. There are nearly 100 million light truck owners in the U.S. SUVOA is equally dedicated to serving the public with information about light truck ownership, including product reviews and recommendations for maximizing utility, performance and enjoyment from SUVs.

SOURCE SUV Owners of America

(c) 2007 U.S. Newswire. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.