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U.S. automobile manufacturers should be required to increase the fuel economy of their products for three reasons:

The first reason is the most obvious one; to reduce carbon emissions that contribute to air pollution. Increased carbon emissions are also responsible for global warming, which is melting the polar ice caps. Many scientists predict this will cause ocean levels to rise, resulting in the flooding of many coastal areas within the next two or three decades.

The second reason is to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. The U.S. only produces approximately three percent of the world's oil, but consumes nearly twenty-five percent of oil produced. This heavy reliance on foreign oil is costing American consumers hundreds of billions of dollars each year. Much of this money is going to countries whose governments aren't friendly to the United States. These resources are limited, and are now being consumed at much higher rates by developing nations as The People's Republic of China and India. This will ultimately lead to skyroceting oil and gasoline prices in the near future.

The third reason is to stimulate our domestic automotive industry by making them more competitive than Asian and German automakers. The most fuel-efficient cars are hybrids as the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight. Others are fuel-efficient, diesel-powered ones produced by Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz. Companies as Fiat are producing very small cars with small, but economical engines. American car makers don't produce any vehicles that can compete with these models. This situation, however, may be changing in the next two to three years.

Chrysler has just emerged from bankruptcy and has been partially taken over by Fiat of Italy; a company known for producing small, economical cars. General Motors is just beginning its restructuring, as it has also declared bankruptcy. Both firms have the opportunity to focus more attention on producing more economical, and fuel-efficient vehicles. Neither company is burdened by the high labor costs which contributed to their inability to be competitive with foreign manufacturers.

Many Americans may still prefer larger vehicles, but the current state of the economy no longer enables most of us to purchase the large SUVs and trucks that had been driven off car dealers' lots. We need to change our priorities when it comes to purchasing a car. Car manufacturers need to produce vehicles that are more fuel-efficient. The government needs to intervene for the sake of the automobile industry, and to improve the environment in which we all live.

Learn more about this author, Leslie Schwab.
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