The Sun Journal editorial “Cleaner cars good for Maine” (April 22) repeats the tired canard against the auto industry that it won’t act unless prompted by government. Here are some facts:

The auto industry is proud of its engineering progress. A new car today is 99 percent cleaner than a vehicle from a generation ago. In 2001, the auto industry was producing cars with 50 percent less smog-producing gases under a voluntary program, proposed by industry, because the federal government could not set more stringent standards until 2004. The industry worked closely with EPA in developing the 2004 auto emission standards, asking the agency to set a stringent set of standards to match those in California. And the auto industry was instrumental in supporting EPA’s efforts to clean up gasoline to help cars run cleaner.

Fuel economy is regulated by the federal government, and the industry has the right to argue against duplicative requirements that will cost consumers money and limit their choice in vehicles they can buy. The auto industry has been increasing fuel efficiency by about 2 percent per year through the application of advanced technology, like six- and seven-speed transmissions, hybrid-electric vehicles, cylinder deactivation and numerous other technologies.

It is time to start giving the auto industry the credit that is due for all it has accomplished over the last 30 years in making cars cleaner.

Fred Webber, president and CEO, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Washington, D.C.

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