Japanese makers praise Obama's push on green cars

Japanese automakers on Wednesday 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.

Toyota Motor Corp., the maker of the Prius hybrid, which gets 50 miles per gallon in the U.S., gave Obama "high praise" for promoting technology to boost mileage and fight global warming.

Obama announced rules Tuesday 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.

Passenger cars will be required to …