Timing isn?t everything, although it often determines the way complex issues pan out. In January, the EPA hurriedly completed its midterm review of 2021?2025 fuel-economy standards 15 months ahead of deadline, beating President Donald J. Trump to office. The inevitable White House reaction followed on March 15: orders to resume the process with the original April 2018 deadline back in force. Ironically, Trump toppled the regulatory apple cart at an Ypsilanti, Michigan, appearance the day before engineers were to convene mere miles away in Dearborn to ponder fuel-economy ?megatrends.?
Car and Driver attended the Fuel Economy Detroit conference, hosted by publication Automotive Megatrends. We conducted interviews, monitored the panel discussion and most of the presentations, and took advantage of Q&A opportunities to bring you the observations that follow. Bottom line: The scope of responsibilities shouldered by the engineers huddled at this Dearborn, Michigan, conference extends far beyond keeping their cars and trucks compliant. This group must also apply its creativity to far-reaching marketing, business, cultural, political, and global competitiveness issues. Another chapter of the regulatory story starts here. Advanced Technology Drives Fuel-Economy Gains

William Charmley, the EPA?s director of the assessment and standards division?who says he?s waiting with everyone else to hear what the standards reassessment process yields?was generally optimistic. He report...