President Obama announces rise in average auto fuel economy to 35.5 mpg by 2016

In Washington, President Obama announced a series of auto efficiency standards, requiring an average fuel economy of 35.5 miles per gallon per automaker in 2016.

The reductions will save an estimated 1.8 billion barrels of oil through 2016 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a projected 900 million metric tons.

The previous policy was established through the CAFE standards passed by Congress in 2007, that required an average fuel economy of 35 mpg by 2020. By contrast, the 40MPG.org site reports that Japan is proposing to reach 48 mpg by 2010, while the EU is aiming for 44 Mpg.

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