Contact:	Bob Redding (202) 543-1440
For Release:	Immediate News Bulletin 99.71 Sept. 10, 1999

ASA Attends CAFE Briefing

Washington, D.C., Sept. 10, 1999 --The Automotive Service Association (ASA) attended a briefing by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) on the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards.

An environmental rider attached to the Transportation department FY 2000 spending bill, H.R. 2084, was the focus of the briefing. The rider would bar the Clinton administration from researching a tightening of the CAFE standards.

Auto industry representatives argued that if the CAFE standards were tightened, the cost of new technology would raise the price of new automobiles, which would discourage consumers from buying new cars. Consequently, car owners would continue to drive older, dirtier cars, increasing pollution.

Industry representatives also argued that the cost of the new technology to meet tighter efficiency would result in up to a 10 percent drop in new car sales. Furthermore, the new, more efficient cars would have a lower operating cost, thus encouraging more driving and more pollution.

Supporters of allowing the research, including the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Sierra Club, countered that a more environmentally friendly designed sport utility vehicle would only cost $750 more than a traditional SUV. The fuel savings would pay for the increase within two years.

Supporters also noted that new car buyers act based on their personal economics, not whether a new vehicle costs $1,000 more. In addition, the Sierra Club representative said that cheaper operating costs would not cause people to drive more.

The Clinton administration strongly opposes a ban on tightening CAFE standards, but has not threatened to veto the bill. The environmental rider barring the consideration of raising the CAFE standards has been attached to the last four transportation appropriations bills.

The EPA and state officials say they have had just one meeting thus far, which was to forge a broad strategy, and few final decisions have been made.

The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind, serving more than 13,000 businesses and approximately 70,000 professionals from all segments of the automotive service industry. ASA's headquarters is in Bedford, Texas.

ASA advances professionalism and excellence in the automotive repair industry through education, representation and member services. Additional information about ASA, including past news releases, is available on the ASA Web Site on the Internet (http://www.asashop.org).