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This excerpt taken from the TM 20-F filed Jun 24, 2009. Vehicle Fuel Economy Japanese Standards The Act Concerning the Rational Use of Energy (the Act) requires automobile manufacturers to improve their vehicles to meet specified fuel economy standards. Fuel economy standards are established according to the types of vehicles specified below, and are required to be met by either fiscal 2011 or fiscal 2016.
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Table of ContentsAmong certain qualifying passenger vehicles:
Among certain qualifying cargo vehicles:
Toyota is promoting the improvement of its vehicles in order to achieve compliance with these standards. Japan ratified the Kyoto Protocol in June 2002, which became effective in February 2005. This protocol requires Japan to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 6% during the years 2008 to 2012 as measured from the 1990 base year. U.S. Standards The Federal Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act requires automobile manufacturers to comply with Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, commonly referred to as the CAFE standards. Under this law, limits are imposed on the amount of regulated pollutants that may be emitted by new motor vehicles in the United States. A manufacturer is subject to substantial civil penalties if, in any model year, its vehicles do not meet the CAFE standards. Manufacturers that exceed the CAFE standards earn credits determined by the difference between the average fuel economy performance of their vehicles and the CAFE standards. Credits earned for the three model years preceding the current model year, and credits projected to be earned for the next three model years, can be used to meet CAFE standards in a current model year. However, credits earned in respect to passenger cars may not be used for light trucks. Similarly, credits earned in respect to light trucks may not be used for passenger cars. Passenger cars are further divided into the two categories Domestic and Import. Credits earned in one category may not be applied toward the other category. In April 2006, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration established CAFE standards applicable to light trucks for model year 2008 and beyond. These CAFE standards aimed to shift the framework from one that used to be advantageous only to compact car manufacturers to one that is fair to full line manufacturers. The requirements were changed so that the CAFE standards are now determined by a sales rate based on vehicle size (measured by the area of the wheel and wheel base) for each manufacturer. In model year 2011, truck CAFE standards will begin to apply to heavier SUVs, vans and other heavier passenger vehicles. Concern over the impact of carbon dioxide emissions on global warming has drawn attention to the need for reducing the use of fossil fuels, in part by increasing vehicle fuel economy. In order to effectuate a more stringent CAFE standard, the federal government enacted a law in December 2007 that raises the CAFE standard to 35 miles per gallon by 2020 on average for passenger cars and light trucks. Currently, the CAFE standard is 27.5 miles per gallon for cars and just over 22 miles per gallon for light trucks. Under this new law, the same method used in determining the applicable CAFE standard for light trucks for model years 2008 and beyond is also used for passenger cars. This method uses sales by vehicle size (wheelbase and track width) of each car manufacturer to determine the applicable CAFE standard. The proposed rule provides flexibility by increasing
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Table of Contentsfrom three to five the number of years that car manufacturers can carry forward credits earned for exceeding CAFE standards, and allowing manufacturers to transfer the credits from one of their classes of vehicles to another. Further measures include regulations that will apply to model year 2011, which were released in March 2009. The standards in these regulations have been established at 30.2 miles per gallon on average for passenger cars and 24.1 miles per gallon on average for trucks. In addition to the CAFE standards, there are multiple standards in the United States including the EPAs emission regulations and the California standard. The California standard is currently suspended from taking effect. Automobile manufacturers had called for uniform standards, as they would need to comply with standards that varied by state if all standards became effective. On May 19, 2009, the U.S. President announced his intent to establish a federal regulation that unifies the three standards. Moreover, he announced that the regulation would conform to the California standard, raising the CAFE standards to 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016. Toyota strives to meet the fuel economy standards by further developing fuel-efficient technology, alternative fuel technology and other advanced technology. In addition, the Energy Tax Act of 1978 imposes a gas guzzler tax on automobiles with a fuel economy rating below specified levels. European Standards The European Union has signed the Kyoto Protocol and agreed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 8% during the years 2008 to 2012, as measured from the 1990 base year. In early 1999, the European Commission and the European Automotive Manufacturers Association (ACEA) agreed on a voluntary agreement which establishes an average emissions target of 140 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer for new cars sold in the European Union in 2008 (the voluntary agreement applied to the 15 states who were members of the European Union at that time). The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association and the Korean Automobile Manufacturers Association have also agreed on a voluntary agreement, similar to that entered into by the European Commission, with the year 2009 as a target year. The European Commission, dissatisfied with the progress being made towards achieving the targets established in the voluntary agreement, proposed making the standards mandatory in December 2007. The European Commissions proposal was enshrined in regulations which established an average emissions standard of 120 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer by 2012 for passenger vehicles sold in the 27 member states of the European Union (the proposal contemplated that vehicle motor technology could reduce emissions to 130 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer, and complementary measures, such as installing tire pressure monitoring systems, could further reduce emissions by 10 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer). The proposed emission regulations were adopted after receiving the approval of the European Parliament in December 2008 and subsequently being approved by the Council of the European Union in April 2009. Upon adoption, it was determined that the regulations would be phased in gradually, initially requiring 65% of new cars to comply with the new standards in 2012 and increasing to 100% of new cars in 2015. As a result of the new regulations, different targets will apply to each manufacturer, based on their respective fleets of vehicles and weight. Penalties will apply to those manufacturers who fail to meet their targets from 2012, in amounts corresponding to the degree of shortfall. Manufacturers failing to meet their targets between 2012 and 2018 will incur penalties of between 5 and 95 per each gram of carbon dioxide per kilometer shortfall for each non-compliant vehicle, and such penalties will rise to 95 in 2018 and beyond. Furthermore, a medium- to long-term target of reducing emissions to 95 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer by 2020 has also been proposed. This represents a remarkably ambitious target, even in comparison to other fuel efficiency requirements worldwide. An increasing number of European Union member states are introducing car tax laws based on carbon dioxide emission levels, pursuant to the directive issued by the European Commission in 2005. This trend is expected to continue, in accordance with the recent increases in environmental awareness.
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Table of ContentsThis excerpt taken from the TM 20-F filed Jun 25, 2008. Vehicle Fuel Economy Japanese Standards The Act Concerning the Rational Use of Energy (the Act) requires automobile manufacturers to improve their vehicles to meet specified fuel economy standards. Toyota has been in compliance with the Act. The Act requires that the actual average fuel economy of cargo vehicles 3.5 tons or more in vehicle weight, passenger vehicles with 11 seats or more and cargo vehicles over 2.5 tons but 3.5 tons or less in vehicle weight, which are designated in Article 75, Paragraph 1 of the Road Transportation Vehicle Law (Law No. 185 of 1951) as type-designated vehicles, comply with the fuel economy standards established thereunder by fiscal 2015, and that the actual average fuel economy of gasoline-fueled passenger vehicles and gasoline-fueled cargo vehicles 2.5 tons or less in vehicle weight for each class based on vehicle weight proposed by each manufacturer complies with the fuel economy standards established thereunder by fiscal 2010. Toyota is promoting the improvement of its vehicles in order to achieve compliance with these standards. Furthermore, Japan has signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and has agreed to take steps to restrain the emission of greenhouse gases. Japan ratified the Kyoto Protocol in June 2002, which became effective in February 2005. This protocol requires Japan to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 6% during the years 2008 to 2012 as measured from the 1990 base year. U.S. Standards The Federal Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act requires automobile manufacturers to comply with Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, commonly referred to as the CAFE standards. Under this law, limits are imposed on the amount of regulated pollutants that may be emitted by new motor vehicles in the United States. A manufacturer is subject to substantial civil penalties if, in any model year, its vehicles do not meet the CAFE standards. Manufacturers that exceed the CAFE standards earn credits determined by the difference between the average fuel economy performance of their vehicles and the CAFE standards. Credits earned for the three model years preceding the current model year, and credits projected to be earned for the next three model years, can be used to meet CAFE standards in a current model year. However, credits earned in respect to passenger cars may not be used for light trucks. Similarly, credits earned in respect to light trucks may not be used for passenger cars. Passenger cars are further divided into the two categories Domestic and Import. Credits earned in one category may be not applied toward the other category. In April 2006, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration established CAFE standards applicable to light trucks for model year 2008 and beyond. These CAFE standards aimed to shift the framework from one that used to be advantageous only to compact car manufacturers to one that is fair to full line manufacturers. The requirements were changed so that the CAFE standards are now determined by a sales rate based on vehicle size (measured by the area of the wheel and wheel base) for each manufacturer. In model year 2011, truck CAFE standards will begin to apply to heavier SUVs, vans and other heavier passenger vehicles. Concern over the impact of carbon dioxide emissions on global warming has drawn attention to the need for reducing the use of fossil fuels, in part by increasing vehicle fuel economy. In order to effectuate a more stringent CAFE standard, the federal government enacted a law in December 2007 that raises the CAFE standard to 35 miles per gallon by 2020 on average for passenger cars and light trucks. Currently, the CAFE standard is 27.5 miles per gallon for cars and just over 22 miles per gallon for light trucks. In response to this new law, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in April 2008 proposed the CAFE standards for model years 2011 through 2015. Under the proposed rules, the same method currently used in determining the applicable CAFE standard for light trucks for model years 2008 and beyond will be used for passenger cars. This method uses sales by vehicle size (wheelbase and track width) of each car manufacturer to determine the applicable CAFE standard. The proposed rule provides flexibility by increasing from three to five the number of years that car manufacturers can carry forward credits earned for exceeding CAFE standards, and allowing manufacturers to transfer the credits from one of their classes of vehicles to another. Furthermore, the CAFE standards for both passenger vehicles and light trucks will increase by 4.5 percent per year for model years 2011 through 2015. Toyota strives to meet the CAFE standards by further developing fuel-efficient technology, alternative fuel technology and other advanced technology.
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Table of ContentsIn addition, the Energy Tax Act of 1978 imposes a gas guzzler tax on automobiles with a fuel economy rating below specified levels. European Standards The European Union has signed the Kyoto Protocol and agreed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 8% during the years 2008 to 2012, as measured from the 1990 base year. In early 1999, the European Commission and the European Automotive Manufacturers Association (ACEA) agreed on a voluntary engagement which establishes an average emissions target of 140 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer for new cars sold in the European Union. The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association and the Korean Automobile Manufacturers Association have also agreed on a voluntary engagement, similar to that entered into by the European Commission, with the year 2009 as a target year. In December 2007, the European Commission issued a proposal to further regulate vehicle carbon dioxide from 2012 at a fleet average of 130 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer, using a sliding scale based on vehicle weight. This provides different targets for each manufacturer based on their respective fleets of vehicles, weight and carbon dioxide output. For manufacturers failing to meet their targets, a penalty system is proposed of 20 per each gram of carbon dioxide per kilometer shortfall in 2012, rising to 95 in 2015. Manufacturers would be permitted to use pooling agreements to share the compliance burden. This proposal is likely to be finalized by the European Parliament in 2008 or 2009. The European Commission is also considering setting binding carbon targets for vans not registered as passenger cars or so-called N-1 vehicles. The European Commission has also proposed a review of labeling rules as well as a voluntary code of practice on car marketing and advertising in order to raise consumer awareness. Some European Union member states have begun to revise their car tax laws to take into account carbon dioxide emission levels. This trend is expected to continue. This excerpt taken from the TM 20-F filed Jun 25, 2007. Vehicle Fuel Economy Japanese Standards The Act Concerning the Rational Use of Energy (the Act) requires automobile manufacturers to improve their vehicles to meet specified fuel economy standards. Toyota has been in compliance with the Act. The Act requires that the actual average fuel economy of cargo vehicles 3.5 tons or more in vehicle weight and passenger vehicles with 11 seats or more and cargo vehicles over 2.5 tons and 3.5 tons or less in vehicle weight, which are designated in Article 75, Paragraph 1 of the Road Transportation Vehicle Law (Law No.185 of 1951) as type-designated vehicles, comply with the fuel economy standards established thereunder by fiscal 2015, and that the actual average fuel economy of gasoline-fueled passenger vehicles and gasoline-fueled cargo vehicles 2.5 tons or less in vehicle weight for each class based on vehicle weight proposed by each manufacturer complies with the fuel economy standards established thereunder by fiscal 2010. Toyota is promoting the improvement of its vehicles in order to achieve compliance with these standards. Furthermore, Japan has signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and has agreed to take steps to restrain the emission of greenhouse gases. Japan ratified the Kyoto Protocol in June 2002, which became effective in February 2005. This protocol requires Japan to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 6% during the years 2008 to 2012 as measured from the 1990 base year. U.S. Standards The Federal Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act requires automobile manufacturers to comply with Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, commonly referred to as the CAFÉ standards. Under the CAFÉ standards, a manufacturer is subject to substantial penalties if, in any model year, its vehicles do not meet those standards. The current CAFÉ standards are 27.5 miles per gallon for passenger cars and 20.7 miles per gallon for light trucks for model year 2004, which will increase to 22.2 miles per gallon for model year 2007, including mini-vans and sport-utility vehicles. In April 2006, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration established new CAFÉ standards that will be applicable to light trucks for model year 2008 and beyond. This new CAFÉ standard aims to shift the framework from one that used to be advantageous only to compact car manufacturers to one that is fair to full line manufacturers. The requirements will be changed so that the CAFÉ standard is determined by sales rate based on vehicle size (measured by the area of the wheel and wheel base) for each manufacturer. For the 2008, 2009 and 2010 models, manufacturers are permitted to comply with the former standard as a transitional measure and, in the event of such compliance, the CAFÉ standard will be 22.5 miles per gallon for 2008 models, 23.1 miles per gallon for 2009 models and 23.5 miles per gallon for 2010 models. Manufacturers that meet the CAFÉ standards earn credits determined by the difference between the average fuel economy figures of their vehicles and the CAFÉ standards. Credits earned for the three preceding model years and credits projected to be earned for the next three model years can be used to meet CAFÉ standards in the current model year. However, credits earned in respect to passenger cars may not be used for trucks and credits earned in respect to trucks may not be used for passenger cars. Passenger cars are further divided into the two categories Domestic and Import, and credits earned in one category may be not applied toward the other category. Although Toyota has met the current CAFÉ standards for both passenger cars and light trucks, the enactment of a more stringent standard in 2006 could have a significant impact on Toyota automobiles sales in the United States. Concern over the effect of carbon dioxide emissions on global warming has drawn attention to the need for reducing fossil energy use, in part by increasing vehicle fuel economy. In November 1998, the United States signed the Kyoto Protocol. This protocol calls for the United States to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 7% during the years 2008 to 2012, as measured from the 1990 base year. Although the United States government has
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Table of Contentsnot ratified the protocol, it has been considering ways to achieve the called-for reductions, including more stringent CAFÉ standards, higher fuel costs and restrictions on fuel usage. President George W. Bush, in his State of the Union Address delivered in January 2007, proposed to make the CAFÉ standards for both passenger cars (2010MY~) and light trucks (2012MY~) more stringent at a rate of 4% per annum. These policies would be costly for Toyota and may significantly limit the types of products it is able to offer in the United States. In addition, the Energy Tax Act of 1978 imposes a gas guzzler tax on automobiles with a fuel economy rating below specified levels. European Standards The European Union has signed the Kyoto Protocol and agreed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 8% during the years 2008 to 2012, as measured from the 1990 base year. In early 1999, the European Union entered into a voluntary engagement with the European Automotive Manufacturers Association which establishes an average emissions target of 140 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer for new cars sold in the European Union in 2008. The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association and the Korean Automobile Manufacturers Association have also entered into a voluntary engagement, similar to that entered into by the European Union, with the year 2009 as a target year. That target represents an average reduction in passenger vehicle fuel usage of 25%, measured from 1995 levels. Furthermore in February 2007, the European Union proposed regulating towards reducing the average carbon dioxide emissions from new passenger cars to 120 grams per kilometer by 2012, and is currently discussing the details of such regulation. This excerpt taken from the TM 20-F filed Jun 26, 2006. Vehicle Fuel Economy Japanese Standards The Law Concerning Rationalization of Energy Usage requires automobile manufacturers to improve their vehicles to meet specified fuel economy standards. Toyota has complied with these regulations in all material respects. The law requires that the actual average fuel economy of gasoline-fueled passenger vehicles and gasoline-fueled cargo vehicles under 2.5 tons in vehicle weight for each class based on vehicle weight proposed by each manufacturer complies with the fuel economy standards established thereunder by fiscal 2010, and that the actual average fuel economy of diesel-fueled passenger vehicles and diesel-fueled cargo vehicles under 2.5 tons in vehicle weight for each class based on vehicle weight proposed by each manufacturer complies with
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Table of Contentsrelevant fuel economy standards by fiscal 2005. Toyota has already met these standards with respect to diesel fueled vehicles and intends to achieve early compliance with these standards with respect to gasoline fueled vehicles. Furthermore, Japan has signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and has agreed to take steps to restrain the emission of greenhouse gases. Japan ratified the Kyoto Protocol in June 2002, which became effective in February 2005. This protocol requires Japan to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 6% during the years 2008 to 2012 as measured from the 1990 base year. U.S. Standards The Federal Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act requires automobile manufacturers to comply with Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, commonly referred to as the CAFE standards. Under the CAFE standards, a manufacturer is subject to substantial penalties if, in any model year, its vehicles do not meet those standards. The current CAFE standards are 27.5 miles per gallon for passenger cars and 20.7 miles per gallon for light-duty trucks for model year 2004, which will increase to 22.2 miles per gallon for model year 2007, including mini-vans and sport-utility vehicles. In April 2006, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration established new CAFE standards that will be applicable to light-duty trucks for model year 2008 and beyond. In addition to new CAFE standards, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration decided to further strengthen the standards. This new CAFE standard aims to shift the framework from one that is advantageous to compact car makers to one that is fair to full line manufacturing. The overview of the requirement is such that the CAFE standard is determined by sales rate by size (measured by the area of the wheel and wheel base) for each manufacturer. For model years between 2008 and 2010, manufacturers are permitted to comply with the former standard as a transitional measure and, in the event of such compliance, the CAFE standard will be 22.5 miles per gallon for model year 2008, 23.1 miles per gallon for model year 2009 and 23.5 miles per gallon for model year 2010. A manufacturer which meets the CAFE standards earns credits determined by the difference between the actual average fuel economy of its vehicles and the CAFE standards. Credits earned for the three preceding model years and credits projected to be earned for the next three model years can be used to meet CAFE standards in the current model year. Credits earned in respect of passenger cars may not be used for trucks and credits earned in respect of trucks may not be used for passenger cars. Passenger cars are further divided into the two categories Domestic and Import, and credits earned in one category may be not applied toward another category. Although Toyota has met the current CAFE standards for both passenger cars and light-duty trucks, the enactment of a more stringent standard in 2003 could have a significant impact on Toyotas ability to offer its automobiles for sale in the United States. Concern over the effect that carbon dioxide emissions may have on global warming has focused attention on the need for reducing fossil energy use, in part by increasing vehicle fuel economy. In November 1998, the United States signed the Kyoto Protocol. This protocol calls for the United States to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 7% during the years 2008 to 2012, as measured from the 1990 base year. The United States government currently has not ratified the protocol. However, the United States has been considering ways to achieve the called-for reductions, including more stringent CAFE standards, higher fuel costs and restrictions on fuel usage. In February 2002, the Bush administration released a climate change policy initiative stressing voluntary measures and a cap-and-trade program to stem the growth of greenhouse gas emissions. These actions would be costly to Toyota and could significantly restrict the products it is able to offer in the United States. In addition, the Energy Tax Act of 1978 imposes a gas guzzler tax on automobiles with a fuel economy rating below specified levels. European Standards The European Union has signed the Kyoto Protocol and agreed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 8% during the years 2008 to 2012, as measured from the 1990 base year. In early 1999, the European Union entered into a voluntary engagement with the European Automotive Manufacturers Association which establishes an
30
Table of Contentsaverage emissions target of 140 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer for new cars sold in the European Union in 2008. That target represents an average reduction in passenger vehicle fuel usage of 25%, measured from 1995 levels. In addition, the European Union has reaffirmed its goal of reducing average carbon dioxide emissions from new passenger cars to 120 grams per kilometer by 2012. As a result, automobile manufacturers have agreed to re-examine in 2003 the level of compliance towards the 2008 goal and whether further reductions are possible by 2012. The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association and the Korean Automobile Manufacturers Association also entered into a similar voluntary engagement with the European Union with the year 2009 as a target year. Since then, based on the agreement from the monitoring system, the European Union compiled annual progress reports with the aim to achieve the goal. This excerpt taken from the TM 20-F filed Jun 24, 2005. Vehicle Fuel Economy
Japanese Standards
The Law Concerning Rationalization of Energy Usage requires automobile manufacturers to improve their vehicles to meet specified fuel economy standards. Toyota has complied with these regulations in all material respects. The law requires that the actual average fuel economy of gasoline-fueled vehicles for each class based on vehicle weight proposed by each manufacturer complies with the fuel economy standards established thereunder by 2010, and that the actual average fuel economy of diesel-fueled vehicles for each class based on vehicle weight proposed by each manufacturer complies with relevant fuel economy standards by 2005. Toyota is now developing gasoline-fueled and diesel-fueled vehicles that will meet these standards, with the aim of achieving early compliance with these standards for all of its automobiles. Furthermore, Japan has signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and has agreed to take steps to restrain the emission of greenhouse gases. Japan ratified the Kyoto Protocol in June 2002, which became effective in February 2005. This protocol requires Japan to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 6% during the years 2008 to 2012 as measured from the 1990 base year.
29
Table of ContentsU.S. Standards
The Federal Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act requires automobile manufacturers to comply with Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, commonly referred to as the CAFE standards. Under the CAFE standards, a manufacturer is subject to substantial penalties if, in any model year, its vehicles do not meet those standards. The current CAFE standards are 27.5 miles per gallon for passenger cars and 20.7 miles per gallon for light-duty trucks, including mini-vans and sport-utility vehicles. In April 2003, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration established new CAFE standards for light-duty trucks of 21.0 miles per gallon for 2005 model year vehicles, 21.6 miles per gallon for 2006 model year vehicles and 22.2 miles per gallon for model 2007 vehicles. A manufacturer which meets the CAFE standards earns credits determined by the difference between the actual average fuel economy of its vehicles and the CAFE standards. Credits earned for the three preceding model years and credits projected to be earned for the next three model years can be used to meet CAFE standards in the current model year. Credits earned in respect of passenger cars may not be used for trucks and credits earned in respect of trucks may not be used for passenger cars. Passenger cars are further divided into the two categories Domestic and Import, and credits earned in one category may be not applied toward another category.
Although Toyota has met the current CAFE standards for both passenger cars and light-duty trucks, the enactment of a more stringent standard in 2003 could have a significant impact on Toyotas ability to offer its automobiles for sale in the United States.
Concern over the effect that carbon dioxide emissions may have on global warming has focused attention on the need for reducing fossil energy use, in part by increasing vehicle fuel economy. In November 1998, the United States signed the Kyoto Protocol. This protocol calls for the United States to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 7% during the years 2008 to 2012, as measured from the 1990 base year. The United States government currently has not ratified the protocol. However, the United States has been considering ways to achieve the called-for reductions, including more stringent CAFE standards, higher fuel costs and restrictions on fuel usage. In February 2002, the Bush administration released a climate change policy initiative stressing voluntary measures and a cap-and-trade program to stem the growth of greenhouse gas emissions. These actions would be costly to Toyota and could significantly restrict the products it is able to offer in the United States.
In addition, the Energy Tax Act of 1978 imposes a gas guzzler tax on automobiles with a fuel economy rating below specified levels.
European Standards
The European Union has signed the Kyoto Protocol and agreed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 8% during the years 2008 to 2012, as measured from the 1990 base year. In early 1999, the European Union entered into a voluntary engagement with the European Automotive Manufacturers Association which establishes an average emissions target of 140 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer for new cars sold in the European Union in 2008. That target represents an average reduction in passenger vehicle fuel usage of 25%, measured from 1995 levels. In addition, the European Union has reaffirmed its goal of reducing average carbon dioxide emissions from new passenger cars to 120 grams per kilometer by 2012. As a result, automobile manufacturers have agreed to re-examine in 2003 the level of compliance towards the 2008 goal and whether further reductions are possible by 2012. The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association and the Korean Automobile Manufacturers Association also entered into a similar voluntary engagement with the European Union with the year 2009 as a target year.
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