President Donald Trump and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy released a new rule recently that would reset the fuel economy standards.
Citing efforts to make cars more affordable and enhance safety, the administration rolled back National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)’s corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards to roughly 34.9 miles per gallon by 2031. The rule resets the maximum feasible fuel economy standards in accordance with the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, the NHTSA said, and would bring the CAFÉ program into compliance with statutory requirements.
“With our commonsense standards in place, we are making the American dream affordable again, putting safer cars on the road, and investing in the American autoworker,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said.
The initiative would give automakers the flexibility to manufacture cars “the public wants to buy,” the DOT said, while reducing the average cost of a new vehicle by an average of $1,300 for American families, saving Americans $138 billion over the next five years. Additionally, it said the new regulations would prevent more than 300,000 serious injuries and save 1,900 live by encouraging new car sales.
“This rule restores integrity to the national fuel economy program, balancing vehicle affordability and energy conservation goals while improving safety on our roadways,” NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison said. “Newer cars are safer cars. By reducing vehicle prices, more American families will be able to afford newer vehicles, and sensible standards allow automakers more freedom to design and produce vehicles consumers actually want. I’m proud of our fantastic team of expert engineers, economists, and lawyers for the tremendous job they’ve done finalizing this rule.”
The Environmental Defense Fund said the change means Americans will pay more for gas, and suffer more from air pollution.
“For decades, our national fuel economy standards have steadily made our vehicles more efficient and less expensive to drive. Now these Trump administration rules will be a sharp U-turn that will mean wasted gas, more pollution, and higher costs for Americans who are already struggling with high fuel prices,” Andy Su, senior transportation attorney at the Environmental Defense Fund, said. “Raising costs on Americans is exactly the opposite of what we need. These rules won’t just slam the brakes on progress – they’ll throw us in reverse.”