WardsAuto Fuel Economy Index: 2012 State of the Industry

New technologies and changes in consumer buying patterns lifted the average fuel economy of new light vehicles (LVs) sold in the U.S. to a record high 24 mpg (9.8 L/100 km) in 2012, a full mile-per-gallon improvement over the prior year average.

The data comes from the WardsAuto Fuel Economy Index (FEI), which uses monthly model-line LV truck sales, annual engine installation rates and associated EPA fuel economy rankings to calculate the relative average fuel economy of models, brands, segments and power types. (NOTE: Certain light trucks not included in the EPA fuel economy guide are excluded from the individual and aggregated index ratings.)