Video: Obama unveils plan to cut auto emissions

President Obama discusses tightening auto emissions standards.

By: NBC NewsChannel | Alabama's13.com
Published: May 19, 2009

President Obama has unveiled the nation's first comprehensive effort to curb vehicle emissions while cutting dependence on imported oil.

Surrounded by leading members of the auto industry and the auto workers union, the president said the plan requires an overall, or industry average, fuel efficiency standard of 35.5 miles per gallon.

He says although the plan is expected to cost consumers an additional $1,300 per vehicle by the time it's complete in 2016, it'll save billions of barrels of oil, making the environment cleaner.

President Obama said, "The goal is to set one national standard that will rapidly increase fuel efficiency without compromising safety by an average of five percent each year between 2012 and 2016, building on the 2011 standard my administration set shortly after taking office."

He went on to say, "The fact is: everyone wins. Consumers pay less for fuel, which means less money going overseas and more money to save or spend here at home, the economy as a whole runs more efficiently by using less oil and producing less pollution, and companies like those here today have new incentives to create the technologies and the jobs that will provide smarter ways to power our vehicles."

The president mentioned his Ford hybrid, which he recommends. He said he wasn't trying to advertise for one company though, because there are some "outstanding hybrids and energy independent cars" from other makers.

President Obama said the new rules amount to removing 177 million cars from America's roads over the next 6.5 years.