The automobile company announced that the average price of next year's models would decrease four-tenths of one percent, amounting to about $72, as compared with comparably equipped cars and trucks this year.

Option A is wrong because it compares the average price to both cars and trucks. This makes this option wrong.

Option B is the preferred option because of the use of "that" which means the average price, making the comparison to be appropriate.

Option C uses "below", making the sentence redundant and hence its eliminated.

Option D is wrong because it compares models to the company itself.

Option E also compares and/or contrasts cars and trucks with the company itself, hence this option is also wrong.