Gojirra99

Hyundai Takes the Lead as the Most Fuel-Efficient Automaker in America


FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- One year after promising to become the leading manufacturer in fuel economy, Hyundai delivered by topping the latest U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy report. Hyundai passed all major manufacturers in Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) including traditional leaders like Honda and Toyota. The report demonstrates the effectiveness of Hyundai's value-driven fuel-efficiency strategy, which focuses on the intelligent application of cost-effective technologies. The report also substantiates Hyundai's leadership in the race to achieve the government-mandated 2016 CAFE standard of 35.5 miles per gallon.


The EPA 2009 Light-Duty Automotive Technology and Fuel Economy Trends Report indicates that Hyundai has the highest MY 2009 laboratory 55/45 fuel economy with 30.1 miles per gallon (mpg). Hyundai is also the only automaker(1) to top 30 mpg in the report.


"Our thoughtful application cost-effective, fuel-efficient technologies has helped us achieve our goal of leading the industry in fuel economy ahead of schedule," said John Krafcik, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. "Now we hope to extend that leadership with the launch of our new direct injection, turbocharging and lithium-polymer hybrid technologies, all of which will be a part of the 2011 Sonata lineup launching early next year."

Hyundai is aligning global R&D resources at its engineering centers in California, Michigan, Korea, India and Germany to develop the Blue Drive technologies needed to achieve fuel efficiency goals. Under the Hyundai Blue Drive strategy, technologies such as direct injection, turbo-charging, hybrid drive systems and a number of others will all play larger roles in powering future models to offer consumers lower emissions, enhanced performance and more miles per gallon.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 790 dealerships nationwide.


(1) Car and truck combined

(2) Numbers in the MY 2009 EPA Laboratory 55/45 Fuel Economy by Manufacturer table are projected based on initial sales targets provided by manufacturers.


SOURCE Hyundai Motor America

The G Man

Good for Hyundai, way to go to set new standards, one reason might be Hyundai doesnt make work trucks or large SUVs. I am surprise to see VW and BMW way up there in the ratings.

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

^^^

Exactly.

NovaIS350

outside of the Ridgeline and Touareg, neither does Volkwagen or Honda. Toyota has the FJ, Tundra, Tacoma, 4Runner and Landcruiser.

LexFather

Very good list. Don't expect to see Hyundai big SUVs or pickups soon.

SLegacy99

Wasnt there an article last week claiming that it was Honda?

The G Man

Is the Ridgeline considered a work truck?

IS-SV

I thought it was just considered ugly.

MR_F1

Are Lexus vehicles lumped in with Toyota as well?

Cause then there is the LX and GX.

IS-SV

Good for Hyundai and they have the good sales results in November to back it up.

Threxx

This is such a dumb way to calculate who offers the most fuel efficient vehicles in America that I feel like banging my head against a wall.

The big 3 get hurt by this because they offer and sell a bunch of big SUVs and trucks. Those SUVs and trucks actually do pretty well (about as well as anyone else's offerings and in many cases better) in terms of fuel economy. Same with their cars. But since they offer more large SUVs and trucks and sell more, they look bad on paper in these sort of averages.