Key facts
- The Trump administration finalized new, lower fuel economy standards for vehicles.
- The new standards officially reverse a push by the Biden administration to force automakers to build more fuel-efficient vehicles.
- The government notice was published on Monday, September 28.
The Trump administration has finalized new, lower fuel economy standards for vehicles, officially reversing a previous initiative by the Biden administration aimed at increasing fuel efficiency. The government notice detailing these changes was published on Monday, September 28.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the new standards will increase fuel economy by 2% per year for passenger cars and light trucks from model years 2027-2031. Heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans will see efficiency increase by 10% per year for model years 2030-2032 and 8% per year for model years 2033-2035. The NHTSA projects these standards will save consumers billions in fuel costs and reduce pollution. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated that the standards will save car owners over $600 in gasoline costs over the lifetime of their vehicles and prevent significant carbon dioxide emissions.