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Auto Dealers Back Proposed Vehicle Emissions, Sulfur Fuel Standards

10 June 1999

Auto Dealers Back Proposed Vehicle Emissions, Sulfur Fuel Standards

    PHILADELPHIA, June 9 -- The National Automobile Dealers
Association today testified in favor of proposed Tier 2 vehicle emissions and
low sulfur fuel standards at a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hearing.
    Speaking on behalf of NADA and the Pennsylvania Automotive Association
(PAA), Peter Bauer, general counsel for PAA, said the associations
"enthusiastically endorse a tighter set of vehicle emissions standards,
appropriately enabled by low sulfur fuels, so long as they can be achieved
cost effectively and will not have a negative impact on vehicle or powertrain
availability."
    Bauer testified that several benefits will come from the proposed Tier 2
emissions standards, including a significant contribution toward meeting
existing National Ambient Air Quality Standards and a reduced need to regulate
other emission sources, such as dealership body shops or service departments.
    The proposed program's national scope also has advantages. "An appropriate
Tier 2/low sulfur fuel scheme will be at least a 49-state program. Based on
the experiences (with other emission standards) of dealers in Pennsylvania and
throughout Northeast, I hope we will never again see the Balkanization of
vehicle emissions programs," he said.
    Bauer stressed that the new standards must not result in reduced vehicle
driveability or performance. "Dealers know all too well what such product
problems mean. At the very least, irate customers. Worst yet, unsold vehicles
with their emissions reduction benefits languishing on dealer lots."
    Bauer emphasized that the success of the EPA's proposed strategy hinges on
low sulfur fuel content, saying that tighter fuel standards are needed to
allow for new emissions control technologies.
    NADA represents more than 19,500 franchised new-car and -truck dealers
holding nearly 40,000 separate franchises, domestic and import.