The Engine Products Group, comprising the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (Alliance), The Association of Global Automakers, the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute and the National Marine Manufacturers Association; filed a petition for certiorari today asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review the DC Circuit Court of Appeals' August 2012 decision that none of the trade associations or parties had standing in the case.  The group is challenging the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) decision to grant partial waivers approving the sale of gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol (E-15) for 2001 model year and newer passenger cars and light trucks. The Court of Appeals dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction in August 2012.

The petition asks the Supreme Court to accept the case for review.  If the Supreme Court accepts the case, the parties will then ask that court to reverse the Court of Appeal's ruling and find the parties have the right to challenge EPA's partial waiver decisions that allow sale of E15 for some passenger cars and light trucks but not older vehicles and not for use in motorcycles, boats and off road engines.

Automakers' greatest concern continues to be customers.  It is critical that consumers have a positive experience with renewable fuels, which are an important component of our national energy security.  It is not in the longer term interest of consumers, the government, and all parties involved to discover, after the fact, that equipment or performance problems are occurring because a new fuel was rushed into the national marketplace.

Background

Growth Energy, an ethanol industry trade group, petitioned the EPA in March 2009 to raise the limit on ethanol in gasoline from 10 percent to 15 percent. Several engine and auto manufacturers as well as others urged EPA to be deliberative in its review process, assuring thorough and adequate testing to assure that E-15 would not harm existing products or pose safety risks. By approving E-15 use in a small subset of engines on the road, it is expected that the fuel will be used in products not designed for its use and for which E-15 has not been specifically approved.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (Alliance) is a trade association of 12 car and light truck manufacturers, including BMW Group, Chrysler Group LLC, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Company, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda North America, Mercedes-Benz USA, Mitsubishi Motors, Porsche Cars North America, Toyota Motors North America, Inc., Volkswagen Group of America and Volvo Cars North America. For more information, visit www.autoalliance.org

RELATED: Find a statement from Kris Kiser, President and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, regarding the appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court regarding Ethanol 15 here.