Japan praised President Barack Obama’s new rules to push green vehicles and transform the U.S. auto industry — a shift that likely puts Japan’s manufacturers at an advantage. Obama announced rules this week that would bring new cars and trucks sold in the United States by 2016 to an average of 35.5 miles per gallon (15 kilometers per liter), about 10 mpg (4.2 kpl) more than today’s standards. Toyota Motor Corp., the maker of the Prius hybrid, which gets 48 miles per gallon in U.S. city driving, gave Obama “high praise” for promoting technology to boost mileage and fight global warming. And now it appears as though they’re going to be rewarded for it, which I think is great. The Big 2.5 in Detroit should take a long look at what Toyota is doing. By being forward-thinking and responsive to the world population’s desire to be greener, the carmaker is in the right place at the right time.

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