Fiat / Chrysler has the worst fuel economy and CO2 emission of any major US automaker

[TerryMason]

According to a new EPA report, FCA US had the highest level of carbon dioxide emissions of any major US automaker for the fourth consecutive year.

FCA US had the worst fuel economy of any major US automaker, coming in at 20.8 miles per gallon, 0.1 mpg less than in the 2013 model year, primarily due to its dependence on light truck sales. Ford and General Motors tied at 22.8 mpg, but both companies improved over their 2013 ratings.

The most sought after Mopars — Ram trucks, Jeeps, and SRTs —contribute to the problem. The Challenger SRT Hellcat (stick), for example, pumps out 566 grams/mile of carbon dioxide — worse than a Ram 1500 Hemi — and the popular Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 produces nearly 600 grams of CO2 per mile.


Corporate Average Fuel Economy

Manufacturer	CAFE 2014 (mpg)	Truck Share 2014
Mazda	29.4	38%
Subaru	27.6	72%
Hyundai	27.5	21%
Honda	27.3	46%
Nissan	27.0	38%
BMW	26.4	34%
Kia	25.9	35%
Toyota	25.6	46%
Mercedes	23.2	39%
Ford	22.8	67%
General Motors	22.8	63%
FCA US	20.8	77%
Average of All	24.3	48%

Data Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency




As a result of all this, FCA US is the largest buyer of carbon credits. According to the EPA, FCA bought over one million credits in 2014 alone and a total of 8.1 million from 2010 to 2014.


Read the full article here:
News | FCA worst in CO2 emissions

 

[Gennybro]

The price you have to pay for power! But it's all we got right now, The main issue us jeepers is I do believe that 99.999999 percent of jeepers well never litter the woods

So yin and yang Hopefully I wont choke to death ,air quality needs to be addresed.

 

[NerfHerder]

Not only does FCA have an emissions problem, driven largely by their "light truck" heavy lineup, but the problem is going to be expensive to fix and FCA doesn't have a lot of ready cash.

Another European Automaker Has U.S. Emissions Problem of Its Own - Bloomberg Business

To comply, FCA must improve faster than bigger and richer rivals who also are straining to cut emissions. Failing that, it might be forced to stop building some of the light-duty trucks Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Kevin Tynan says deliver 90 percent of its profit. Or, to keep making them, it could be forced into a merger. “FCA doesn’t have the resources to fulfill the emissions requirements,” said Maryann Keller, an independent auto-industry consultant in Stamford, Connecticut. “It’s not a company that can survive in its present form.” To fight global warming, the EPA will cap tailpipe CO2 as measured in real-world driving tests at an industry average of 223 grams per mile in 2025. FCA reported an average 428 grams per mile in 2014, compared with 302 for industry-leading Mazda Motor Corp.
​

The fact that FCA has to cut it's average almost in half presents a HUGE problem for Jeep owners as the next-gen Wrangler will need to be considerably lighter and more efficient - which argues for the loss of things like solid front axles (which they have said no to) or body weight. That could make the rumors about a solid frame and no soft-top more likely.

 

[TrailRatedRN]

So, it appears that these regulations are going to force modifications on newer model Wranglers to improve mpg. Modifications that many of us are talking about not wanting. For the love of all that's sacred, please don't give it square headlights. Just kidding YJ owners. Relax. Just kidding.

 

[NerfHerder]

So, it appears that these regulations are going to force modifications on newer model Wranglers to improve mpg. Modifications that many of us are talking about not wanting.

Worse than that. As the Bloomberg article pointed out, Fiat's attempts to bring down the mpg so far, like the 9-speed transmissions, have contributed to Fiat's worst-in-the-industry quality problems. And "FCA doesn’t have the resources to fulfill the emissions requirements" since they're over six-and-a-half billion dollars in debt.

It's worth asking what kind of compromises Fiat would have to make to keep Jeep in their stable, and whether it might not be better for them to spin off Jeep before they're forced to water down the brand. Fiat's already selling fewer Wranglers than Renegades.

If you're concerned about any of this, consider signing this petition – and sharing it.