WASHINGTON?The Senate rejected tough, new automobile fuel economy requirements Wednesday amid sharp disagreement over safety and whether the standard would ban families from SUVs and minivans.

A provision that would have required automakers to increase their fleet-wide gasoline economy to 36 miles per gallon by 2015, an increase of about 50 percent from current rules, came under sharp attack as a threat to the U.S. auto industry and the ability of Americas to choose their vehicles.

Instead, senators approved a more industry-friendly proposal that would direct the Transportation Department to develop new fuel economy rules, but sets no specific increase for the automakers to meet.

The House in its version of the energy legislation calls for modest limits on the amount of oil used for motor vehicles, a requirement expected to amount to about a mile-per-gallon improvement in new car fleets.