U.S. automakers are complaining about the federal government’s plan to raise the average fuel efficiency of vehicles. A L.A Time article quotes Reg Modlin, head of environmental and energy planning for Chrysler Group, who claims that the proposed new bill would require fuel efficiency improvements of 2% to 2.2% per year and that this would be a “significant challenge” from the 1.5% per year seen over the past two decades.

In early September, we reported on the government’s proposed “symbolic change” to the fuel efficiency standards and asked you to contact your representatives asking for real changes. Many of you did (thanks to those that copied us on your letters and mentioned us) as did countless others that read our article thanks to bloggers spreading the word. It is good to see the government responding to the pressure from voters and not listening to lobbyists on this topic, but this is only a first step.