NADA Commends President's Support for National Fuel Economy Program

Auto dealer group stresses need to consider economy, jobs, safety

WASHINGTON, May 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following statement from the
chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association, John McEleney, is in
response to today's White House announcement of a new national fuel economy
and greenhouse gas program:
"NADA commends President Obama for making the right decision to embrace a
federal fuel-economy standard over an unworkable patchwork of state-based
laws. NADA is also pleased that the Environmental Protection Agency and
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will use a system based on a
vehicles' 'attributes,' such as size and engine type. This will help dealers
to have a mix of cars and trucks available on their lots that meet the needs
of their customers.

"Dealers are also heartened by the President's intent to have the EPA and
NHTSA coordinate their regulatory efforts. Implementation of this next step,
however, could turn out to be challenging because these agencies have two very
different goals under federal law. NADA is looking forward to hearing more
details of how EPA and NHTSA will reconcile their differences and how their
program will actually work.

"Dealers have long supported fuel economy improvements that are feasible and
affordable. NADA will work with both EPA and NHTSA to ensure they fully
consider how changes in the nation's fuel-economy standard will impact jobs,
vehicle safety, consumer demand and vehicle affordability. At issue is not
whether manufacturers are capable of building cars and trucks that comply, but
more importantly, whether the motoring public will want to buy them."

SOURCE National Automobile Dealers Association

David Hyatt, Vice President, NADA Public Affairs, +1-703-821-7120,
dhyatt@nada.org, or Charles Cyrill, Director of Public Relations, NADA Public
Affairs, +1-703-821-7121, ccyrill@nada.org, both of the National Automobile
Dealers Association