(Obama) Administration: ‘Clunkers’ improving mileage

[sabra]

Source: MSNBC/AP

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration appealed to the Senate Monday to bail out the popular but reeling "cash for clunkers" rebate program, arguing that it already has improved vehicle fuel efficiency by over 60 percent.

Putting pressure on lawmakers to act before going on vacation later this week, the administration talked up the initial results of the $1 billion car-purchase program. One official said the average fuel economy of new vehicles purchased through the program was 25.4 miles per gallon and the average fuel efficiency of the trade-ins was 15.8 mpg, representing a 9.6 mpg fuel economy increase.

The data was aimed at appeasing lawmakers such as Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, who have questioned whether the program's environmental benefits go far enough.

The data based on 80,500 vehicle transactions logged into the government's operating system through Saturday afternoon, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak publicly. The official said the fuel efficiency improvements would save a typical customer between $700 and $1,000 a year in fuel costs.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32270718/ns/business-autos/

[SpartanDem]

1. So much for another GOP talking point