August U.S. Fuel Economy Index Up 2.4%

The average fuel economy of new light vehicles sold in the U.S. in August reached 25.4 mpg (9.3 L/100 km), up 2.4% from same-month 2013 and 21.4% from the base score of fourth-quarter 2007.

BMW reached a record high 28.2 mpg (8.4 L/100 km), boosted by sales of the new i8 plug-in hybrid coupe. BMW had the most improved score from last year, jumping 19.6%.

Mitsubishi remained the highest-scoring automaker (excluding electric-only Tesla), maintaining an outcome of 30.2 mpg (7.8 L/100 km) for the fourth month in a row.

Jaguar Land Rover, at 19.3 mpg (12.2 L/100 km), was still the only automaker below the 20-mpg (11.8-L/100 km) benchmark. Nonetheless, the automaker showed a 12.1% year-to-date improvement.

The company with the biggest decline from last year was Kia, which dropped 1.6% to 25.6 mpg (9.2 L/100 km), due primarily to fewer hybrid sales.

The average rating for cars sold was 29.7 mpg (7.9 L/100 km), 2.9% higher than same-month 2013 and 22.9% above the index base period. All car segments lost market share from year-ago, except midsize cars, which registered 30.2 mpg (7.8 L/100 km) score in August. The segment with the biggest drop in market share was small cars, the most fuel-efficient segment at 31.0 mpg (7.6 L/100 km)

The new i8 was a significant factor in the luxury-car segment’s 8.4% rating improvement over like-2013 to a best-ever 26.5 mpg (8.9 L/100 km).

Light trucks gained market share from last year, accounting for 52.6% of LV sales. In August, the vehicle-type hit 21.2 mpg (11.1 L/100 km), regaining its high point reached in February. CUVs ticked up to record 23.3 mpg (10.1 L/100 km).

National gasoline prices averaged $3.565 in August, resulting in the biggest month-to-month drop in nine months.

Although electric-vehicle sales share was up from July, hybrids and plug-in hybrids were slightly down.

Over the first eight months of the year, the index sat at 25.3 mpg (9.3 L/100 km), 2.3% higher than the same period in 2013.

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