NHTSA proposes lower efficiency targets for future vehicle models as debates continue over costs, industry impact, and long-term expectations.
President Donald Trump recently announced the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will pursue lower fuel economy requirements for passenger cars and light trucks from model years 2022 through 2031. The agency proposed a rule that would replace the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards finalized in 2024, which set a goal of 50.4 miles per gallon by 2031. The new approach follows an interpretive rule separating NHTSA’s fuel standards from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) emissions rules.
Supporters of the rollback, including several legislators and automotive industry officials, stated that the earlier targets raised manufacturing and purchasing costs and limited the types of vehicles companies could reasonably produce.
“This is about affordability here,” said Senate Environment and Public Works Chair Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, who chairs the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
Congress recently passed a reconciliation provision eliminating civil penalties for noncompliance with the current standards. Related actions by the administration include rescinding an EPA waiver that allowed California to enforce its own emissions rules, a decision the state plans to challenge.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For officials in the NHTSA as they assess how these policy changes affect transportation and auto manufacturing.
- For Administrator Zeldin as he oversees the EPA and the updating of environmental rules.
- For the president and members of Congress as they make decisions that will influence vehicle affordability, fuel use, and long-term infrastructure needs.
Sources: Roll Call, JD Supra
