WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and chief sponsor of a measure to increase fuel economy standards in the House, released the following statement on the news that Ford Motor Corporation has hired Alan Mullaly to replace Bill Ford as Ford’s President and Chief Executive Officer:

“Ford has always acted like making a car more efficient was harder than rocket science.  Now that the company has an actual rocket scientist at the helm, maybe the science of auto mechanics will not seem so difficult.  The first thing Mr. Mulally should do is reverse Ford’s disastrous retreat on hybrid vehicles so that America can once again lead the world in auto technology.”