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Economics can helpThe Trump administration announced today it's scaling back how fuel efficient American carmakers need to make their fleets.The Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards set average fuel economy levels for carmakers.The revised rules, which were finalized today, will now require carmakers to make their new passenger car and truck fleets up to 1% more fuel efficient each year, aiming for an average of 34.9 miles to the gallon in model year 2031.This is down from Biden-era rules, which required an annual 2% increase in fuel efficiency with a goal of most vehicles getting, on average, 50.4 miles to the gallon by 2031.The rationale: affordability.
Administration officials argue that fuel efficiency technology is expensive, and has helped to drive up the cost of vehicles.They estimate that scaling back the standards will shave about $1,300 off the sticker prices of new cars."This administration is delivering relief to families and reviving the beating heart of American manufacturing," said U.S.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in an online statement announcing the change.President Trump weighed in over the weekend on Truth Social: "These new Standards will take the waste out of building cars in America.That means LOWER PRICES, saving families thousands on a new, beautiful, and safe car."Climate advocates and auto industry observers say the rules change is another step in the Trump administration's efforts to roll back Biden-era climate policies — including cutting the federal tax credit for electric vehicle buyers, delaying federal dollars for a nationwide EV charging program, and striking down federal waivers that let California set its own strict pollution regulations.In a statement emailed to NPR, Dan Becker, director of the Safe Climate Transport Campaign at the Center for Biological Diversity, wrote that rolling back the standards would increase gasoline usage and polluti...