LaHood: Americans won’t return to guzzlers when gas prices fall

“I think this is the direction the American people are heading in,” he said. “I don’t worry about people going back to their old ways, so to speak.”

LaHood spoke to reporters on a conference call ahead of President Obama’s visit Friday to Allison Transmission, an Indiana company that specializes in hybrid propulsion systems.

The Transportation Department is working on the next round of fuel economy standards that will cover model years 2017-2025, and a proposal is expected in the fall.

“We are taking our time, we are not going to rush, but we believe that based on the work we are doing, we will have an announcement in the fall,” LaHood said.