Even as American consumers continue to buy new trucks instead of new cars, the fuel economy average for new vehicles sold in July rose slightly over June.
Despite the continuing rise in sales of trucks and utility vehicles, the average fuel economy or window-sticker value of new vehicles sold in the U.S. in July 2016 was 25.4 miles per gallon, a slight increase over the previous month, according to the University of Michigan.
The fuel economy was up 0.1 mpg from the value for June 2016, according to a new report from U-M researchers Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle. The figure of 25.4 mpg, which is identical to the average fuel economy figure for vehicles sold in July, 2015.
The monthly U-M report said fuel economy is down 0.4 mpg from the peak reached in August 2014, but still up 5.3 mpg since the university began keeping track of fuel economy figures across the industry.
Gains in fuel economy have been harder to come by as consumers have demonstrated a decided preference for new trucks and utility vehicle.
(Nissan trying to redefine mobility for the future. Click Here for the story.)
The rise in sales trucks and utilities, which include both traditional SUVs and car-like crossover vehicles, has gotten a boost from the drop in the prices of gasoline, which began two years ago and persisted despite repeated predictions that pump prices would begin to increase at some point.
Trucks and SUVs accounted for nearly 60% of all new vehicles sold in the United States during July, according to AutoData. So far this year. passenger car sales have dropped 7.7% and while truck and SUV sales have increased by 9.1%.
(Click Here to see more about the mid-engined Corvette moving from rumor to reality.)
The University of Michigan Eco-Driving Index – an index that estimates the average monthly emissions of greenhouse gases generated by an individual U.S. driver – was 0.82 in May 2016, down 0.03 from the value for April 2016.
The index is set up so the lower the value the better. The EDI takes into account both vehicle fuel economy and distance driven with the latter relying on data that are published with a two-month lag.
(High-tech safety features “APEAL” to consumers, says J.D. Power study. For more, Click Here.)
The value indicates that the average new-vehicle driver produced 18% lower emissions in May 2016 than in October 2007, but 4% higher emissions than the record low reached in both August 2014 and August 2015.