Statement From Dave McCurdy, CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, on President Obama's Statement on California's Proposed Emissions Standards

WASHINGTON, Januaury 26, 2009 On behalf of the 11 members of the Alliance, Dave McCurdy, president and CEO, issued this statement today in response to President Obama's announcement that his Administration will review California's request for a federal waiver to set state fuel economy/CO2 standards and determine the best way forward:

"The Alliance supports a nationwide program that bridges state and federal concerns and moves all stakeholders forward, and we are ready to work with the Administration on developing a national approach."

Since CA sought federal permission to set its own fuel economy/CO2 standards, there have been many developments. The U.S. Supreme Court directed EPA to reconsider greenhouse gas regulations for autos, the Congress passed stringent new fuel economy standards requiring CO2 reductions of at least 30%, automakers are offering more than 25 models of hybrids for sale in 2009, President Obama and a Democratic Senate and House are considering a comprehensive, economy-wide approach to CO2 reductions, and the credit crunch is producing the toughest marketplace since World War II.

Today in the U.S. there are three voices on fuel economy/CO2 -- NHTSA, EPA and CA -- and each has different standards, different structures and different timelines. Automakers seek a federal-state solution that provides us with compliance clarity and one national standard.

The Alliance also urges the Obama Administration to issue fuel economy standards for MY2011, because automakers are working on their product plans now and need the certainty of final standards.