Overview
- The Center for Biological Diversity, Conservation Law Foundation, Environmental Defense Fund, Public Citizen and Sierra Club filed a petition for review in the U.S. Court of Appeals on Friday challenging the Trump administration’s finalized rule.
- The rule cuts the 2031 Corporate Average Fuel Economy target to about 34.9 miles per gallon for passenger cars and light trucks, down from a projected roughly 50.4 mpg under the prior administration’s standards.
- Plaintiffs say the rollback will make new cars less efficient and cost drivers more at the pump, citing Department of Energy figures reported by media that the change would raise gas prices by about $0.76 per gallon.
- The filing is currently a short petition that does not lay out detailed legal arguments and is expected to invoke the Administrative Procedure Act’s arbitrary and capricious standard while the rule remains final but subject to a statutory delay before taking effect.
- Automakers and industry groups praised the change as expanding consumer choice and affordability, while analysts warn of higher long‑term fuel use and air pollution, making the appeals court fight a key next step for policy and consumer costs.