ATG demands final fuel economy rules to reflect accurate data on lightweighting

Last Friday, the Aluminum Association’s Transportation Group (ATG) submitted comments urging the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to pursue data-driven decision making in its final vehicle fuel economy rulemaking.

The comments emphasized the proven track record of vehicle mass reduction safety, supported continued year-over-year fuel economy improvements and called on the agencies to maintain One National Program to avoid protracted litigation. The docketed comments are in response to the proposed Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule for Passenger Cars and Light Trucks, Model Years 2021-2026.

“The agencies rightly recognized greater use of high strength, low weight materials – especially in larger cars and trucks – is a safe way to boost fuel economy and cut carbon emissions. However, the draft rule wrongly assumes automakers will reduce weight evenly across vehicle segments, to include the smallest cars. There is no data to support this assumption and a wealth of data and on-the-road examples to support the opposite conclusion,” said Heidi Brock, president & CEO of the Aluminum Association.

“We also support the president’s call for a negotiated outcome with California to maintain a single national program and avoid legal battles that will cause uncertainty across the auto industry. We strongly agree that all parties must come together to find a workable solution that fosters continual gains in fuel economy and reductions in carbon emissions,” Brock added.