Mileage requirements for trucks increased

KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
DETROIT -- Automakers will be forced to make their sport-utility vehicles, pickups and minivans go farther on a gallon of gas under new rules federal regulators issued Tuesday.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will require automakers to raise the corporate average fuel economy for light trucks by 1.5 miles per gallon between model years 2005 and 2007, the largest increase in fuel economy standards in 20 years.
Under the rule, which NHTSA proposed in December and adopted after a public comment period, the current standard of 20.7 miles per gallon will increase to 21 miles per gallon in model year 2005, 21.6 miles per gallon in model year 2006 and 22.2 miles per gallon in model year 2007.