White House wants to change gas-mileage rules

The administration’s request came as many motorists complain about gasoline prices exceeding $3 a gallon in some areas and an increased focus on energy policy. The request would not lead to any immediate increase in gas mileage requirements for passenger cars, and any new rules would give automakers at least 18 months to incorporate the changes into their vehicle lineup.

Under the current system for passenger cars, automakers are required to meet an average of 27.5 mpg, a number that has remained constant since 1990. Transportation officials said the current average of passenger cars on the road is 29.7 mpg.

Last month, the government set tighter gas mileage rules for pickups, SUVs and vans covering the 2008-2011 model years. The program, based on the vehicle’s size, is expected to save 10.7 billion gallons of fuel over the lifetime of the vehicles sold during that period.

U.S. automakers, notably General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co., have struggled in recent months, outlining plans to reduce work forces as they deal with shrinking market share, higher costs and intense competition from Asian automakers. Any deliberations over changing gas mileage standards are watched intensely by the auto industry.

Sherrie Childers-Arb, a GM spokeswoman, said “if changes are made we want to be sure that this program is designed in the fairest way possible for all auto manufacturers.”

On Capitol Hill, the move was met with some skepticism. Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., a longtime supporter of the auto industry, said he would review the proposals “to ensure they will not unduly burden American manufacturers and American workers.”

“I only hope folks understand these actions will have no near-term effect on rising gas prices. The American people deserve real solutions, not a bunch of smoke and mirrors,” he said.

House Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert, R-N.Y., a longtime booster of higher mileage standards, said Mineta’s letter was a good sign but represented a weak commitment. He has been working to secure support for a proposal raising the fleetwide average for all vehicles to 33 mpg by 2016.

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