The Crittenden Automotive Library

Topic: Fuel Economy Guide

Commission Proposes Amendments to Fuel Economy Guide

Agency: Federal Trade Commission
Date: 24 April 2009
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– The Commission has proposed amendments to the agency’s Guide Concerning Fuel Economy Advertising for New Automobiles (the Fuel Economy Guide) (16 C.F.R. Part 259). The Fuel Economy Guide was adopted in 1975 to prevent deceptive fuel economy advertising and to facilitate the use of fuel economy information in advertising. The proposed amendments would change the Guide to reflect developments in automobile technology, as well as changes to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) fuel economy labeling rules for new automobiles.

As detailed in the Federal Register notice approved by the Commission, which will be published soon and can be found now as a link to this press release on the Commission’s Web site, the proposed amendments fall into three principal areas: 1) changes to terms and definitions to ensure consistency with EPA’s revised fuel economy labeling requirements; 2) modifications to expand the scope of existing guidelines to new vehicle types that run on fuels other than gasoline, such as natural gas and electricity; and 3) inclusion of guidance related to cruising range information in advertisements for vehicles that run on alternative fuels. The notice also explains how to submit public comments, which the Commission must receive by June 26, 2009.

The Commission vote approving publication of the Federal Register notice was 4-0. (FTC File No. R7711008; the staff contact is Hampton Newsome, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 202-326-2889; see press release dated May 4, 2007 at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2007/05/fyi07241.shtm.)

MEDIA CONTACT:

Office of Public Affairs
202-326-2180