US eases fuel-economy standards for new cars
The Trump administration links the measure to lower purchase prices and more choice for motorists.
The US government has set new fuel-economy standards for cars and light trucks. The Department of Transportation says the average fleet will still be more fuel-efficient in 2031 than in 2024, but the measure also rolls back part of the earlier tightening.
The new rules are part of the Freedom Means Affordable Cars initiative named by the administration. According to the Department of Transportation, carmakers should be given more room to sell vehicles with internal-combustion engines without having to meet earlier, stricter targets.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration expects new vehicles in model year 2031 to achieve an average of 34.9 miles per gallon. In model year 2024, the average was 30.1 miles per gallon, according to the same agency.
That comparison does not mean the new rules are more ambitious than all earlier plans. Reuters describes the measure as a relaxation of standards from the Biden era. The administration also says it is ending what it calls the previous federal EV mandate.
The department estimates that the average price of a new car could fall by $1,300 and that households could save $138 billion over five years. These are government estimates, not an independent measurement of savings achieved.
Fuel economy and emissions are not the same policy instrument. The new transport standard determines how much fuel vehicles may use on average; the separate Environmental Protection Agency rules on greenhouse gases were also rolled back earlier this year.
For the climate, slower improvement in fuel economy will probably mean a smaller efficiency gain than under stricter standards. The ultimate impact will depend on the vehicles consumers buy, the development of electric cars and demand for petrol and diesel.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The US government has set new fuel-economy standards.
- The government expects higher average fuel economy in 2031 than in 2024.
- Earlier federal climate and vehicle rules have been rolled back by the Trump administration.
Left
Arguments Stricter standards are needed to limit oil use and emissions. Lower purchase prices should not be achieved by shifting higher fuel costs, greater emissions and increased climate risks on to society.
Values Climate protection, public health and intergenerational justice.
Consequences Greater pressure on efficiency and electric cars could accelerate innovation, but new vehicles could become more expensive in the short term.
Centre
Arguments Standards should be ambitious but achievable, taking account of affordability, infrastructure and the actual availability of electric vehicles. A gradual transition avoids shocks.
Values Practical feasibility, affordability and stable policy.
Consequences A moderate path could build support, but would make it harder to meet emissions targets quickly.
Right
Arguments The government should allow consumers freedom of choice and prevent regulation from making cars unaffordable. Carmakers and buyers can better decide for themselves which technology suits the market.
Values Freedom of choice, affordability and limited government intervention.
Consequences Lower regulatory pressure could support prices and production, but could also lead to higher fuel use and slower decarbonisation.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The legal measure and the mpg figures cited have been confirmed by the US Department of Transportation. Claims about price savings have been attributed as government estimates and not presented as an established result.
- confirmed The new standard targets an average of 34.9 miles per gallon in 2031. — Mentioned by NHTSA in the official DOT statement. source
- confirmed The average was 30.1 miles per gallon in 2024. — Mentioned in the same official statement. source
- confirmed The administration presents the measure as ending a Biden EV mandate. — Reuters and the DOT statement use that political framing. source
- confirmed The administration estimates savings of $138 billion over five years. — This is explicitly an estimate by the US department, not an independent finding. source
Editor's note
The new fuel figures and official savings estimates come from the US Department of Transportation. The climate impact is a policy inference; its ultimate scale depends on market behaviour and the interaction with EPA rules.Sources
- Freedom Means Affordable Cars-initiatief — U.S. Department of Transportation
- Trump says he approved fuel economy standards — Reuters via Investing.com
- Rescission of greenhouse-gas rules for vehicles — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency