Overview
- NHTSA proposed scaling back fuel economy requirements for model years 2022–2031 to a 34.5 mpg fleet average by 2031, down from 50.4 mpg under the prior rule.
- The agency estimates the change would lower average up-front vehicle prices by about $930 per vehicle.
- NHTSA projects roughly 100 billion additional gallons of fuel consumed through 2050, up to $185 billion in extra fuel spending, and about a 5% increase in carbon dioxide emissions.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said looser rules could broaden consumer choices and potentially bring back station wagons, and NHTSA’s administrator raised the wagon topic with automakers this week.
- Earlier this year Congress ended fuel-economy penalties for automakers, and NHTSA said no fines apply dating back to the 2022 model year.