Trump Administration Rolls Back Federal Auto Fuel-Efficiency Targets
The Trump administration finalized a rollback of federal fuel-economy standards for new vehicles on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, a move critics say will raise emissions and fuel costs.[1]
Under the final rule, automakers must improve fleet fuel efficiency by up to 1 percent a year and aim for an average 34.9 miles per gallon by 2031, down from a Biden-era 50.4 mpg target.[1] U.S. automakers welcomed the weaker standards, while critics warned of higher long-run fuel costs, increased greenhouse gas emissions and competitive risks versus faster-electrifying foreign markets.[1]
The Biden administration had set the stricter 50.4 mpg target for 2031, and the new rule reverses that policy direction by shrinking expected annual gains to about 1 percent.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On or before September 29, 2026, the Trump administration finalized a rollback of federal fuel-economy standards for new vehicles.
- Automakers will now be required to improve fleet fuel efficiency by up to 1% annually, aiming for an average of 34.9 mpg by 2031, down from a Biden-era target of 50.4 mpg.
- U.S. automakers publicly welcomed the weaker standards, while critics warned of higher long-run fuel costs, increased emissions and competitive risks versus faster-electrifying foreign markets.
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