Will The New 54.5 MPG Standard Price Cars Out Of Reach For The Average Consumer?

The proposal to increase federal fuel economy standards to 54.5 mpg by 2025 threatens to price millions of consumers out of the market, the incoming chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association said Monday.

NADA is pushing back with tough questions about the proposal, said 2012 Chairman Bill Underriner in his address to dealers during Monday's closing session.

If fewer customers can afford new cars, it will hurt sales and dealership profits and defeat the objective of improving fuel efficiency, Underriner, a Billings, Mont., dealer with Buick, Honda, Hyundai and Volvo franchises, said.

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Joe_Limon - 2/7/2012 1:15:09 PM

+1 Boost

No, people will just buy cheaper/used vehicles if they can't afford the new ones. Or go public transportation.

thetruth01 - 2/7/2012 3:16:55 PM

+4 Boost

Considering there are plenty of cars that already meet or come close to this number (remember this is CAFE, not window sticker number), I don't see the problem. Bunch of whiners. They complain when any new standard is put in place. And I'm sure my beloved Toyota will complain just as much as other mfrs, yet will have no problem quietly producing enough Prii and other hybrids to make sure they meet the goal.