Trump administration finalizes weaker US fuel economy standards

The lower targets ease automakers’ near-term burden but risk higher fuel, health and climate costs over time.

The US Department of Transportation has finalized a Trump administration rule that significantly relaxes future fuel economy requirements for passenger vehicles, replacing Biden-era targets with much lower goals. Instead of reaching an average 50.4 miles per gallon by model year 2031, automakers will only need to hit 34.9 mpg, a modest increase over the earlier 30.1 mpg target for 2024. The administration argues the rollback will cut around $1,300 from the price of a new car and save $138 billion over five years, claims that critics dispute. Environmental, health, and consumer groups warn the weaker standards will raise fuel costs for drivers and increase public health and climate-related damages from higher emissions. The American Lung Association says decades of fuel standards have delivered cleaner air and cost savings, and that the technology exists to keep strengthening them rather than dialing them back.