Cost of m.p.g. goal is $60B

[Bruce Nunnally]

That's what automakers will have to spend to hit the government's 35.5-m.p.g. average for new cars and light trucks sold in 2016, the Obama administration said Tuesday.

But the benefit to car buyers -- $250 billion, mostly from reducing fuel costs with the gas-stingy new fleet -- will far outweigh higher costs consumers will pay for the higher-tech vehicles.

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