Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - (Page 23) AUGUST 18, 2008 • 23 GM seeks hybrid credits, consistent rules David Barkholz dbarkholz@crain.com Panel: CAFE will change U.S. car mix April Wortham awortham@crain.com TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — General Motors believes the federal government can ease the auto industry’s transition to alternative fuels and higher fuel economy, said Beth Lowery, GM vice president of environment, energy and safety policy. The automaker would like tax credits for buyers of alternative-fuel vehicles, Lowery told an audience last week at the Management Briefing Seminars here. The tax credits would help coax consumers to try new technologies such as the Chevrolet Volt plug-in, the hybrid electric car that GM expects to roll out in 2010. The feds also could help the industry by enforcing a single fleet fuel-economy standard to prevent states such as California from setting their own rules, she said. California has proposed a 42.5-mpg fleet average by 2020, while the federal standard has been raised to 35 mpg. If California gets a waiver to permit the higher standard, it could embolden other states to enact a hodgepodge of rules that would force the automakers to respond, said Mike Stanton, president of the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers. The group represents Toyota, Honda, Nissan and 11 other import-brand automakers. Stanton spoke on the same panel as Lowery. GM is working on an array of fuel-saving technologies to appeal to consumers in the era of $4-a-gallon gasoline, Lowery said. Long-range plug-in vehicles such as the Volt could save owners $1,700 a year in fuel costs, Lowery said. The average vehicle today costs about 14 cents a mile in fuel at $4.20 a gallon of gasoline. An electric vehicle costs TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Automakers will resort to changing the mix of vehicles they sell in the United States to meet the 2020 deadline for tougher federal fuel economy standards, a panel of industry experts concluded. “It’s going to be a tough go in the 2011-to-2015 time frame,” said Ronald Krupitzer, vice president for automotive applications at the American Iron and Steel Institute. “We may see remarkable shifts in the mix of vehicles that are produced in North America, especially toward the end of that time frame.” ing a new CAFE law requiring vehicles to average at least 35 mpg by 2020 —about 40 percent higher than today. On-shelf technologies “I think you’re looking at what is the distribution of vehicles that you’re up against, and what are the technologies that are basically available on the shelf today?” said panelist Michael Bull, director of technology-automotive at Novelis North America. “It’s unlikely that within that short time frame you’ll get everything you want without some sort of shift in distribution,” he said. Novelis, an aluminum maker spun off from Alcan, recently was acquired by Hindalco Industries. George Racine, a panelist representing the plastics division of the American Chemistry Council, said the looming standards will force a faster rate of innovation, especially when it comes to taking weight out of vehicles. Plastics now make up 8 to 12 percent of vehicle content by weight, Racine said. By 2020, he said, the council expects that figure to be 15 to 20 percent, largely a result of CAFE standards. c Topic: Lightweight materials JOE WILSSENS GM’s Beth Lowery: Tax credits would coax consumers. about 2 cents a mile, she said. GM also is introducing several more models capable of running on a combination of gasoline and ethanol to lower emissions and U.S. oil dependence, Lowery said. Lowery said bringing alternative-fuel vehicles to market will require collaboration with utilities and other energy producers to make it convenient for consumers to get the fuels they need. c Speaking here last week at the Management Briefing Seminars, Krupitzer was part of a panel of industry experts that discussed using lightweight materials to improve fuel economy and reduce carbon emissions. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration plans to raise corporate average fuel economy standards 4.5 percent a year during the 2011-15 model years. The rules are the first major step toward enforc- http://www.everycarlisted.com http://www.everycarlisted.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - August 18, 2008 Automotive News - August 18, 2008 Smart answer: A tiny Hyundai from India Toyota idles factories — but can't lay anybody off Sharing the pain N. America: Brembo's big break? Ford adds 7 preferred suppliers; total rises to 65 Suit: Report of store's death is premature Lincoln crossover will get MKT nameplate Ligocki will head Mexican/Chinese car deal Industry tries lean lobbying at conventions Ford reins in F-150 order combinations Nissan will buy more in Mexico Leland, master of precision and luxury cars Honda will launch Prius fighter in April Porsche bolsters warranty on pre-owned vehicles CTS wagon arrives in spring GM: Aerodynamic design boosts Volt's range Denso is Chrysler 'Supplier of Choice' Kudos to Ford for improving supplier relations How do we define 'automaker'? Concept of leasing had been polluted Totaled cars: We don't need a new law Hybrids too quiet? Sounds like trouble Marketing tips for the 21st century Scion tries to get leg up when flexing its hip Scion ads show community of cool — but no owners July trucks sales fall; rate of decline slows Hargrove forecast: Good for now, bad for long term Mitsubishi plans plant to meet battery demand Mini Cooper D(iesel) delivers, but not here yet Logistics company's goal: Cut fuel use even more Transporter joins the cars it delivers in going green Saturn, Scion lost that special feeling Expert: CAFE debate irrelevant Chrysler plans unibody, fuel-efficient Grand Cherokee Panel: CAFE will change U.S. car mix Toyota revs up its aftermarket parts business Dealers Who's that sporting Brembos now? Moody's cuts GM rating Analyst Merkle moves Ford will sell stock BMW recalls 320,000 vehicles Intermet in Chapter 11 again GM adds 4 XFE models Delphi ends battery venture Chamco cases bounce around court system Mercedes sues Cobasys over batteries For a while, the party's over at Toyota Buy Hummer? Nyet, says Russian automaker What cars will be the cruisers of tomorrow? GM sets 'em up for Dems, GOP Chung sprung A good day at work: $22 million Automotive News - August 18, 2008 Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - (Page Intro) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Sharing the pain (Page 1) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Sharing the pain (Page 2) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Ligocki will head Mexican/Chinese car deal (Page 3) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Nissan will buy more in Mexico (Page 4) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Nissan will buy more in Mexico (Page 5) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - CTS wagon arrives in spring (Page 6) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - CTS wagon arrives in spring (Page 7) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Denso is Chrysler 'Supplier of Choice' (Page 8) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Denso is Chrysler 'Supplier of Choice' (Page 9) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Denso is Chrysler 'Supplier of Choice' (Page 10) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Denso is Chrysler 'Supplier of Choice' (Page 11) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Totaled cars: We don't need a new law (Page 12) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Totaled cars: We don't need a new law (Page 13) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Marketing tips for the 21st century (Page 14) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Marketing tips for the 21st century (Page 14a) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Marketing tips for the 21st century (Page 14b) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - July trucks sales fall; rate of decline slows (Page 15) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Mitsubishi plans plant to meet battery demand (Page 16) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Mitsubishi plans plant to meet battery demand (Page 17) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Saturn, Scion lost that special feeling (Page 18) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Saturn, Scion lost that special feeling (Page 19) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Saturn, Scion lost that special feeling (Page 20) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Saturn, Scion lost that special feeling (Page 21) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Chrysler plans unibody, fuel-efficient Grand Cherokee (Page 22) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Panel: CAFE will change U.S. car mix (Page 23) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Panel: CAFE will change U.S. car mix (Page 24) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Panel: CAFE will change U.S. car mix (Page 25) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Panel: CAFE will change U.S. car mix (Page 26) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Panel: CAFE will change U.S. car mix (Page 27) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Dealers (Page 28) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Who's that sporting Brembos now? (Page 29) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Delphi ends battery venture (Page 30) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Delphi ends battery venture (Page 31) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Mercedes sues Cobasys over batteries (Page 32) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - Mercedes sues Cobasys over batteries (Page 33) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - A good day at work: $22 million (Page 34) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - A good day at work: $22 million (Page 35) Automotive News - August 18, 2008 - A good day at work: $22 million (Page 36)
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