Driven by Fuel Efficiency, U.S. Auto Industry Jobs Up Nearly A Quarter Million Since 2009

Driven by Fuel Efficiency, U.S. Auto Industry Jobs Up Nearly A Quarter Million
                                  Since 2009

PR Newswire

DETROIT, Aug. 8, 2012

New Final Federal Fuel Economy Rules for 54.5 MPG Expected in Mid-August;
Highlighting MI, IN, and OH Employment Impacts, Report Available at New
DrivingGrowth.org Website.

DETROIT, Aug. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With the launch of new
federal vehicle fuel economy rules only about one week away, the American auto
industry has grown by nearly a quarter million jobs (236,600) since June 2009
when the auto industry hit bottom, according to a new report available from
DrivingGrowth.org.

The report from DrivingGrowth.org (http://www.DrivingGrowth.org) finds that
fuel efficiency is a major factor behind the gains in U.S. auto jobs.   A
website that tracks the revitalization of the U.S. auto industry,
DrivingGrowth.org  is sponsored by three leading U.S. environmental
organizations:  The Natural Resources Defense Council, the National Wildlife
Federation, and the Michigan League of Conservation Voters Education Fund.

Manufacturing of motor vehicle and parts has grown by 165,100, or 26.4 percent
since June 2009.  Another 71,500 jobs have been added at U.S. auto
dealerships. Automakers, their suppliers and their dealers are now looking
ahead to a brighter future after the dark days of the recession.

Examples of how fuel-efficiency standards are accelerating the auto industry's
recovery in the U.S. include the following:

  o Michigan -- 35,200 new auto manufacturing jobs since June 2009 when the
    auto industry hit bottom, accounting for half of the state's total job
    gains over the same period.  In Saginaw, Michigan, for example, automotive
    supplier has added 650 jobs and will retain an additional 1,000 jobs for
    production of electric power steering components (EPS) for U.S.-made
    pickup trucks. EPS, which replaces a more fuel intensive hydraulic system,
    can boost fuel economy by 4-6 percent on a typical vehicle.
  o Indiana -- 19,800 new auto manufacturing jobs since June 2009 when the
    auto industry hit bottom, accounting for over one third of the state's
    total job gains over the same period. In Greensburg, Indiana, Honda is
    investing $40 million and will hire 300 new workers as its Indiana
    facility becomes the sole global producer of the fuel-efficient Honda
    Civic hybrid.  It will be exported to markets around the world from
    Indiana.
  o Ohio -- 11,300 new auto jobs since June 2009 when the auto industry hit
    bottom, accounting for one quarter of the state's total job gains over the
    same period.  In Warren, Ohio, General Motors is running three shifts at
    its Lordstown Assembly plant, adding 1,200 jobs and employing 4,200 total
    workers to produce the high-mileage Chevy Cruze, which achieves 42 miles
    per gallon (MPG) in the EcoCruze model.

"Setting strong fuel efficiency standards means we are sending more of our
energy dollars to the Midwest, not the Middle East" said Tiffany Ingram,
Midwest advocacy director for NRDC.  "Global automakers are now sourcing their
most advanced, high-tech manufacturing here in the United States, creating a
more sustainable and secure future for U.S. industry and U.S. workers."

"People in Ohio want clean air and clean water – and we can have both by
bringing clean car manufacturing jobs to," said Frank Szollosi, federal policy
associate for the NWF's Great Lakes Regional Center.  "And it's happening.
11,300 auto jobs have come back to Ohio since the industry hit bottom. Ford's
Eco-Boost engine, which is key to the company's fuel efficiency strategy, is
made in Ohio. And companies like Parker Hannafin are adding jobs in Columbus
to build fuel-saving components for hybrid heavy trucks."

"Thanks in large part to a renewed focus on fuel efficiency, 35,000 more
Michigan auto workers are back to work," said Ryan Werder, campaigns director
for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters Education Fund.  "Michigan is
once again on the forefront of the global auto industry, showing us how clean
technology, revitalized economy, and a cleaner environment all go
hand-in-hand."

Part of the brighter U.S. industry future is due to manufacturers investing in
innovative technologies to prepare their vehicle fleets for increased fuel
efficiency standards. Model year 2012 is the first year of a long-term federal
program that requires a sales-weighted average of the equivalent of 35.5 MPG
by 2016.

In 2011, the Obama administration announced plans for additional draft fuel
economy and emissions standards that will raise new passenger vehicle fuel
efficiency levels to the equivalent of 54.5 MPG by model year 2025. The
process of setting new fuel economy standards began in 2007, when Congress
passed and President George W. Bush signed a new energy law.

The new rules, expected to become final later this month, cover both fuel
economy and emissions and are a continuation of the carbon pollution and
fuel-efficiency standard program that currently goes to 35.5 MPG by 2016.
Thirteen global automakers, including Ford, GM and Chrysler, as well as the
United Auto Workers (UAW) are on record in support of the new rules.

According to the new DrivingGrowth.org report, current trends show that higher
fuel efficiency standards are already working:

  o The first half of 2012 set the record for the highest-ever fuel efficiency
    for new passenger vehicles at 23.8 MPG, up 1.1 MPG from the same period
    from 2011.
  o The projected new auto sales figure for 2012 is 14.1 million units, up a
    strong 1.4 million vehicles over 2011.
  o There are now significantly more fuel-efficient vehicle choices of all
    sizes for consumers. The number of high fuel efficiency, high volume
    vehicle models has more than doubled since 2009, from 28 to 60, according
    to an analysis by auto industry forecasters Baum and Associates.  These
    include fuel-efficient models of small cars, midsize cars, and crossovers
    (CUVs).

DrivingGrowth.org currently features video interviews with engineers and
product executives from BorgWarner's Powertrain Technical Center in Auburn
Hills, Michigan, which is also home to the company's global headquarters. At
the Technical Center, BorgWarner develops turbochargers, dual clutch
transmissions, variable valve timing and other fuel-saving and emission
reduction technologies.   The company has added more than 6,000 jobs worldwide
in the past two years.

Additional interviews from other auto manufacturing and supplier companies
will be added in the next few weeks. The new DrivingGrowth.org website also
includes an archive of news stories related to fuel efficiency and lower auto
emissions; data on automotive job growth, infographics describing the
consumer, environmental and economic benefits of fuel economy and emissions
standards, a catalog of research studies and reports, and blogs by
environmental and industry insiders.

Regular updates are available on Facebook at Driving Growth and on Twitter
@DrivingGrowth.

SOURCE DrivingGrowth.org, Detroit, MI

Contact: Josh Mogerman, Natural Resources Defense Council, +1-312-651-7909