| HONDA AND TOYOTA OFFERED U.S. | | | | sale of a controlling stake in Chrysler to private equity |
| CONSUMERS THE HIGHEST average fuel efficiency | | | | firm Cerberus Capital Management, was the lowest |
| of 2007 model year vehicles, the government reported | | | | rated with 18.3 mpg, a mark that has been unchanged |
| Wednesday. The average fuel economy for 2007 | | | | the past three years. The figures were calculated for |
| vehicles was 20.2 miles per gallon, the same as 2006 | | | | the first time based on test methods devised to better |
| vehicles, the Environmental Protection Agency said in | | | | reflect driving habits and provide a more realistic |
| an annual report that used new testing procedures. For | | | | estimate. The new tests led to a 6 percent decrease |
| individual vehicles, the test results are included on | | | | in fuel economy averages compared to past |
| window stickers in dealer lots. The agency said the | | | | estimates using old testing criteria, the EPA said. |
| overall results marked an increase compared with | | | | Among vehicle type, passenger cars averaged 23.4 |
| 2004 vehicles, which averaged 19.3 mpg. | | | | mpg in 2007 -- unchanged from 2006. SUVs averaged |
| Honda Motor Co. had the highest fuel economy of any | | | | 18.1 mpg, an increase of 0.3 mpg, and pickups were |
| manufacturer with 22.9 mpg, a slight decrease | | | | unchanged at 16.2 mpg. EPA Administrator Stephen L. |
| compared with its 2006 lineup. Toyota Motor Corp. | | | | Johnson said the findings were evidence that |
| posted a 22.8 mpg average for its 2007 vehicles | | | | "automakers are answering |
| compared with 22.4 mpg the previous year. Toyota's | | | | President Bush's call to improve fuel economy and |
| average was helped by the gas-electric Prius hybrid, | | | | decrease our nation's dependency on foreign oil." But |
| which had the highest combined fuel economy of any | | | | the figures underscored complaints in Congress that |
| passenger car with 46.2 mpg. South Korea's Hyundai | | | | the auto industry has failed to rapidly ramp up |
| Motor Co., which includes Kia vehicles, improved to | | | | production of vehicles that can get more miles on a |
| 22.7 mpg for 2007 vehicles, followed by Volkswagen | | | | gallon of gas. The Senate approved legislation in June |
| AG with 21.4 mpg. Nissan Motor Co. showed the | | | | that would require automakers to build more efficient |
| largest gain of any automaker during the past year, | | | | vehicles; the measure is pending in Congress. |
| improving 0.6 mpg to 20.6 mpg. General Motors Corp. | | | | With more consumers driving larger vehicles than a |
| led domestic automakers with 19.4 mpg, followed by | | | | generation ago, overall fuel efficiency has made little |
| Ford Motor Co. with 18.7 mpg. For the third straight | | | | progress. The current fleet is less efficient than the |
| year, Ford's Escape hybrid had the highest fuel | | | | new vehicles produced in 1981, for example, and well |
| efficiency of any light truck with 29.7 mpg. | | | | below the peak of 22 mpg in 1987. |
| DaimlerChrysler AG, which recently completed the | | | | |