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Fuel Economy Gains Stall in U.S.
The average fuel economy rating for new vehicles sold in the U.S. has been stuck at 25.3 mpg since the end of the 2014 model year, the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute reports.
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The average fuel economy rating for new vehicles sold in the U.S. has been stuck at 25.3 mpg since the end of the 2014 model year, the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute reports.
Fuel economy averages for full model years steadily improved from 20.8 mpg in 2008 to 22.5 mpg in 2011 and 24.6 mpg in 2013, according to UMTRI.
The average climbed to 25.3 mpg in the 2014 model year ended Sept. 30. But monthly averages haven't budged in three months.
Analysts note the lack of further gain coincides with falling gasoline prices. Cheap fuel encourages buyers to shift their preferences from fuel-efficient small cars to less efficient big trucks.
Pickups, crossovers and vans captured about 52% of the American vehicle market in January-November compared with 50% in the same period of 2013, according to Autodata Corp. Trucks have accounted for about 54% of all sales since the beginning of September.
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