Overview
- NHTSA unveiled a proposed rule covering model years 2022–2031 that would drop the fleetwide Corporate Average Fuel Economy target from roughly 50.4 mpg under Biden-era rules to about 34.5 mpg by 2031.
- The White House projects $109 billion in savings and about $1,000 off the average new-vehicle price, figures challenged by advocates who cite higher lifetime fuel costs.
- Ford CEO Jim Farley, Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa, and a General Motors representative endorsed the move at a White House event, describing it as better aligned with market demand and affordability.
- The plan advances alongside earlier steps that weakened enforcement, including a congressional rollback of CAFE penalties and a June interpretive rule limiting NHTSA’s use of EVs and related credits in setting standards.
- Environmental and public-health groups condemned the rollback and signaled opposition as the Department of Transportation opens a roughly 45-day comment window, with California expected to pursue challenges.