This is what the new fuel efficiency standards in the US means for Korea:

Fuel efficiency is once again the hottest topic in the world’s automotive industry as the United States has decided to significantly raise its automobile fuel economy and emissions standards by 2016.

According to the plans, new passenger cars will be required to get 39 mile per gallon or 16.5 kilometers per liter, while the corporate average fuel economy of light trucks will have to be raised to 30 mile per gallon, 12.7 kilometers per liter, by 2016. The corporate average fuel economy is an average derived from the fuel economy of each model and the number sold.

In addition, the Unites States automobile emissions are set to be reduced by 30 percent by the same year.

The United States is the single largest importer of Korean automobiles. As such, any changes in U.S. automobile policies has significant implications for local carmakers. According to the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association, 23.7 percent of vehicles exported from Korea during the first four months of the year were shipped to the United States.

In order to respond to such changes, experts say that Hyundai Kia Automotive Group — which accounts for more than 70 percent of Korea’s auto exports — needs to produce energy efficient compact cars such as the Forte and Avante at its U.S. plants. Experts say that the group should compete with Japanese firms with such high fuel-efficiency vehicles in the U.S. market for the near future and then focus on hybrid electric vehicles.

At present, local carmakers still have ways to go if they are to meet the new standards.  [Korea Herald]

I can’t imagine the Korean auto industry will have any problems increasing their fuel efficiency.  I’m still surprised though that domestically Korea doesn’t have more hybrids considering the amount of time people spend stuck in traffic with their cars running guzzling gas.

I am all for high fuel standards to reduce the US dependence on foreign oil. The first thing I did when I got back to the US last year was buy a fuel efficient car.  If you buy a hybrid keep in mind you get a tax rebate when you file your taxes.  I got a $2,200 rebate when I filed my taxes this year.  The lady that filed my taxes said this was the last year for the rebate though if Congress doesn’t renew it.

However, I find it interesting how much press attention this is getting when these standards were already passed by Congress back in 2007.  The Obama administration has just bumped up their implementation by four years to 2016.  I don’t remember this much media attention back then?  I wonder why?