Time for a U-Turn

The Union of Concerned Scientists reports that since the 1950s, US automakers have consistently fought against fuel economy, emissions, and safety standards using 'scare tactics' and claims of technical infeasibility, despite later meeting or exceeding those same standards. While the industry collaborated with the federal government in 2009 to establish flexible standards that have since saved drivers nearly $50 billion, the report claims that industry trade groups are currently attempting to weaken these rules. The document calls for automakers to cease spreading disinformation and support strong, technology-forcing standards.

• Since 1950, the US auto industry has consistently employed a pattern of 'denial, delay, and hyperbole' to obstruct safety and environmental rules, often claiming that such regulations were technically impossible or would destroy the industry.
• Automakers frequently use a specific set of 'scare tactics' to influence policymakers, including claims that standards cannot be met, will cost too much, will kill jobs, are not wanted by consumers, are based on unclear science, or that the market will solve the issue voluntarily.
• Despite their initial opposition, automakers have historically over-performed when faced with new rules, implementing innovative solutions at lower costs than federal agencies originally estimated.
• The industry's failure to invest in fuel economy and its preference for SUVs and trucks contributed to the crisis that led to the 2008-2010 recession and subsequent government bailouts for the 'Big Three' manufacturers.
• Joint fuel economy and emissions standards established in 2010 have been successful, resulting in nearly $50 billion in fuel savings for drivers and record sales for the industry in 2015 and 2016.
• Following a January 2017 EPA announcement that standards should proceed as planned, automakers and trade groups have attempted to roll back these commitments by lobbying the new administration to reopen midterm reviews.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2017). Time for a U-Turn. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2017/12/cv-fuel-efficiency-intransigience-ES_0.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Time for a U-Turn. 2017. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2017/12/cv-fuel-efficiency-intransigience-ES_0.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Time for a U-Turn |date=December 2017 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2017/12/cv-fuel-efficiency-intransigience-ES_0.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2017time, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Time for a U-Turn}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2017}, month = dec, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2017/12/cv-fuel-efficiency-intransigience-ES_0.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }