EPA: Cars exceeding emissions standards

Cars sold in the United States exceeded federal 2013 greenhouse gas emissions standards on average, the second year in a row cars have beaten the standards, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

U.S. model-year 2013 cars emit, on average, 272 grams per mile, 12 fewer than the EPA’s requirements, which translated to vehicles being 1.4 miles per gallon more efficient than the EPA’s standards.

{mosads}In 2012, vehicles beat the regulations by 11 grams per mile, the agency said. The 2013 standards were more strict than 2012.

The EPA said the figures show that the Obama administration’s aggressive efficiency and emissions standards are working better than planned.

“These findings are a terrific early success story for President Obama’s historic effort to reduce the pollution that contributes to climate change,” EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said in a statement.

“Automakers are racing to meet our goals. The American auto industry has never been stronger, we’re creating jobs here in the U.S., selling cleaner cars here and overseas, and consumers are really benefitting from the innovations spurred by these standards,” she said.

The figures were part of a wide-ranging annual report on vehicle standards that the EPA released Thursday.

The report also found that vast majority of manufacturers, accounting for more than 99 percent of car sales, met the standards in 2012 and 2013.