The Trump administration announced on Monday that it will release new fuel‑economy standards that relax the requirements for automakers to reduce pollution from gasoline‑powered cars and light trucks. President Donald Trump said on his Truth Social account that the less stringent mileage rules would eliminate waste in vehicle production, save families thousands of dollars on a new car, and boost U.S. auto production.
According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration projection, the revised rules would set the fleet‑wide average fuel economy for light‑duty vehicles at about 34.5 miles per gallon in the 2031 model year, down from the 50.4 miles per gallon projected under Biden‑era standards. The change follows a series of Trump‑era rollbacks that have relaxed tailpipe emissions rules, repealed fines for automakers that miss federal mileage targets, and ended consumer credits of up to $7,500 for electric‑vehicle purchases.
The White House, Department of Transportation and NHTSA could not immediately confirm the details of the new standards. General Motors, Stellantis and Ford Motor Co. also declined to comment. The administration says the new rules will increase Americans’ access to a full range of gasoline vehicles that they need and can afford, citing the average new car price of $50,089 in August and rising gasoline costs amid disruptions in global fuel supply.
Environmental groups have criticized the rollbacks, arguing that they will lead to higher fuel consumption, more air pollution and higher costs for consumers. Dan Becker of the Center for Biological Diversity said the final rule “ignores the feasibility of clean technology and the millions of fuel‑efficient cars already on the road.” Katherine García of the Sierra Club warned that less fuel‑efficient cars would mean more gas burned, more spending at the pump and dirtier air. The NHTSA had estimated that the 2024 standards would save 14 billion gallons of gasoline by 2050 and reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, soot and smog components.
