State Emissions Mandate, Federal Fuel Economy at Odds in Washington

WASHINGTON – Auto makers, regulators and environmentalists open the annual Society of Automotive Engineers’ Government/Industry meeting here by treading heavily on what surely will become familiar battleground this year – whether new federal fuel-economy standards or state-level tailpipe emissions regulations proposed by California will control greenhouse gases and promote U.S. energy independence.

California’s emissions standard requires vehicles to achieve a fleet average of ...