“The announcement today by President Obama is a major step in the right direction for automotive manufacturers in the United States such as the BMW Group,” Friedrich Eichiner, Member of the Board of Management of BMW said in the release in which BMW expresses its support.
According to the new requirements, all the cars in the United States will have to comply with a 35.5 mpg average (6.6l/100 km) fuel limit by 2016. All the new regulations will come into effect starting with model year 2012 vehicles.
“Consistency of legislation and planning certainty are not only crucial for synchronizing product development and regulatory requirements but also for enabling companies to remain viable, profitable and sustainable,” added Friedrich Eichiner
"At a time of historic crisis in our auto industry, when domestic auto manufacturers are making painful choices and restructuring their businesses to be viable in the future, this rule provides the clear certainty that will allow these companies to plan for a future in which they are building the cars of the 21st century," President Obama said when announcing the new rules.
BMW, being an European manufacturer, will have to comply with the same rules for the cars it exports to the US. This does not pose any problems for the company, as its EfficientDynamics program and the introduction of the hybrids will help them reach that goal.
In addition, BMW is already testing its 600 MINI E vehicles on both coasts of the US, in the light of the release of BMW's first series all electric vehicle, sometimes in 2015.
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