"U.S. auto dealers gathered for their annual convention in New Orleans said they want President Donald Trump to ease federal regulation of vehicle emissions and consumer lending, reversing action taken by his predecessor.

Former President Barack Obama enacted rules requiring automakers to roughly double the average fuel efficiency of their U.S. car and truck fleets to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. U.S. consumers, however, are buying more SUVs and trucks amid low gasoline prices and shunning smaller, more fuel-efficient cars.

Mark Scarpelli, the National Automobile Dealers Association's new chairman and owner of General Motors Co dealerships in northern Illinois, said the technology needed to improve fuel efficiency can add $1,500 to $3,000 to a vehicle's price."

Nick Carey reports for Reuters January 29, 2017. [2]