A Porsche spokesperson says the sport-car manufacturer may struggle to fulfill proposed U.S. gasoline-consumption laws despite filing a waiver to delay its meeting of those requirements until 2016 if the law is passed this May and goes into effect in 2012. The new rule would mean that Porsche new vehicles have to average 41.4 miles to the gallon; its range currently averages 27 mpg.

For years Porsche has paid fines for not reaching American fuel efficiency standards, but the cost to consumers has only been about $100 per car. The new law will raise the fines to approximately $37,500 per car.

“Economically this rule will restructure the entire industry,” said Walter Lewis, Porsche’s liaison to U.S. lawmakers. “It’s not the task of the government to decide on the winners and losers in the auto industry. This is not environmental policy, it’s industrial policy.”

Critics to Porsche’s claims say that most U.S. auto manufacturers will be able to meet the new regulations.

[via TheLocal.de]