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About 38 million Americans are expected to go somewhere this holiday season, and AAA says that's up about 1.4 percent from last year. NBC's Tom Costello has the details.

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GM's Saab Deal Is Off 24 Nov 2009
General Motors' Saab deal is off, reports CNBC's Phil LeBeau.

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Behind The Wheel

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May.19

8:51 AM ET

Tuesday, 19 May 2009

Better Mileage Doesn't Mean The Death Of SUV

Posted By:Phil LeBeau

Sectors:Oil and Gas | Technology | Automobiles and Parts

Companies:Toyota Motor Corporation | General Motors Corp | Honda Motor Company, Ltd. | Ford Motor Company

2007 GMC Acadia
Source: automobilemag.com
2007 GMC Acadia
For years, we've heard Detroit and other auto makers lobby against higher fuel economy standards because it would drive up costs and ultimately hurt sales of SUV's and pick-ups- vehicles Americans want.

They also happened to be the profit drivers back in the days when the Detroit 3 made a profit.

These days profits have evaporated and so is the silly suggestion SUV's can not be made more fuel efficient.

They can and will be under the new CAFE standards President Obama will outline today at the White House.

Here's what auto makers need to do by 2016

Raise fuel efficiency standards to 35.5 MPG
Cars must achieve 39 MPG
Trucks must get 30 MPG

That last requirement for trucks (which includes SUVs) is one that in the past would make the suits in Motown scoff. They would say, "you can't make a big heavy truck or SUV get 30 MPG." Funny, you won't hear that anymore. Nor will we see the death of the SUV that many of the "greenies" have been predicting. The fact is, auto makers will make more fuel efficient SUVs and those models will sell because it's a style of vehicle people want.
Green Invests Here | See Complete Coverage

SUVs will become more fuel efficient through the use of lighter weight materials (steel, aluminum, plastics), lighter weight components (electronics, software) and dramatically more efficient engines (delivering 8 cylinder performance while only using 6 cylinders of gas). Sure, developing and implementing these changes means the cost of vehicles will go up another $1,300 from current prices. It's the price we have to pay for finally getting with the program.

And yes, we Americans will pay it.

2009 NY Auto Show

Top Ten Gas-Sipping Cars

Milestones in the Auto Industry

As much as people bemoan how many many SUVs and big cars are out on the road, the fact of the matter is that Americans wants big vehicles. Sure, there is a growing number of people demanding compact cars, but the big rides still rule the road. Research shows people want size and power behind the road, especially if they can get it with better mileage. That's the reason these new CAFE standards do not mark the death of the SUV and pick-up trucks, but rather a new day for the big ride in America.

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