Frustrated American Autobuyers Want Access to Fuel-Efficient Vehicles Available in Other Nations ... But Not U.S.

40mpg.org/Civil Society Institute Poll Also to Show Most Americans Don't

Believe What Big Oil Execs Told Congress About Price Gouging; Inadequate

Action Seen on Fuel Conservation, Higher Fuel-Efficiency Standards and Curbs

to Combat Global Warming.

Most Americans now believe that they should be able to buy the dozens of fuel-efficient cars made by foreign and American auto manufacturers that are available for sale in other nations but not in the United States, according to a new Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) national survey to be released on December 1, 2005 by 40mpg.org, which is a project of the nonprofit and nonpartisan Civil Society Institute (CSI).

The 40mpg.org/CSI survey also will show that millions of Americans have been frustrated in their attempts to buy hybrids and other fuel-efficient vehicles due to lack of adequate supply of the vehicles in the U.S. Most survey respondents also rejected recent oil company denials before Congress about price gouging. On several fronts, Americans show signs of wanting more action on fuel conservation (including higher federal fuel efficiency requirements) and other steps to reduce global warming.

  News event speakers will be:

  * Civil Society Institute President Pam Solo;

* Opinion Research Corporation Senior Research Associate Graham Hueber; and

* 40mpg.org spokesperson Ailis Aaron, co-editor of "The Ultimate Car Book 2001" and "The Used Car Book 2000-2001".

On March 17, 2005, an ORC survey commissioned by 40mpg.org/CSI found that two out of three Americans now agree that it is "patriotic" to buy a fuel efficient vehicle that uses less gasoline and, therefore, requires this country to import less oil from the Middle East.

TO JOIN THE EVENT: You can join the live, telephone-based news conference (with FULL Q&A) by dialing 1-(800) 860-2442 by 11 a.m. ET on December 1, 2005. Ask for the "foreign fuel-efficient vehicles" news event.