Environmental groups say the industry cannot be trusted to regulate itself. Despite numerous technological advances, the rise of SUVs has pushed the fuel economy of the average new American vehicle to its lowest point in two decades, according to the most recent data available from the US Environmental Protection Agency.
"The Japanese automakers have better fuel economy, but it's unclear if they're going to increase the fuel economy of their overall fleets without the government stepping in," said David Friedman, a senior analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists.
"Japanese manufacturers are going to force the Big Three to compete because they're increasing their market share with better technology," Becker of the Sierra Club said.
"I work on global warming," he added. "I can't lose hope."
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