Detroit 3 are producing vehicles with most emissions, lowest fuel economy
WASHINGTON — The Detroit Three automakers again produced vehicles with the most emissions and the lowest fuel economy of any major manufacturers in model year 2021, according to new data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Stellantis NV came in last in a field of 14 automakers for both measures, General Motors Co. was secondto-last and Ford Motor
Co. was third-to-last.
Both Stellantis and GM’S fuel economy decreased and emissions increased between model years 2016 and 2021, according to the EPA.
The three automakers also lagged behind their peers in model years 2019, 2018 and 2017. Stellantis has had the lowest fuel economy of any manufacturer every year since 2012. Tesla Inc., which produces only electric vehicles, has had the highest fuel economy every year since 2018.
“While the vehicles that generated this data featured attributes our customers preferred at the time, they do not reflect our current or future product plan,” Stellantis spokesperson Eric Mayne said. He added that Stellantis has since introduced the bestselling plug-in hybrid vehicle in the U.S. — the Jeep Wrangler 4xe — and that the company has announced $35 billion in investments in electrification.
EPA’S annual Automotive Trends Report showed a field of major automakers primarily using credits to maintain compliance with federal emissions and fuel economy standards as they continue to sell more trucks and SUVS, even as they improve vehicle efficiency overall.
Industry-wide, fuel economy remained at a high point of 25.4 miles per gallon.