Toyota's environmental image takes a beating

Environmental group Bluewater Network is launching an ad campaign today accusing Toyota of misleading the public about its environmental record.
An article in Monday's Detroit Free Press cites Bluewater as saying Toyota's newest "gas guzzler" hybrids, the Highlander and Lexus RX 400h, get no better fuel economy than their non-hybrid versions.

Bluewater also points out that Toyota is working with other automakers to resist the federal government's efforts  to raise fuel economy standards, and to fight California's proposed tighter clean air standards. Finally, the environmental group notes that Toyota's fleet-average fuel economy is worse than it was 20 years ago.

You may remember Bluewater Network as the group that attacked Bill Ford Jr. for failing to walk the talk on Ford Motor's environmental promises, portraying him as a long-nosed Pinocchio.

[We wonder how this looks against Toyota's latest 'what if the air was clean again?' campaign. -R]