The Trump administration announced a new federal rule on Monday that drastically reduces fuel efficiency requirements for cars and light trucks in the U.S., under the initiative called "Freedom Means Affordable Cars".
The standard sets an average of 34.9 miles per gallon for vehicles of the 2031 model year, compared to the 50.4 mpg projected under the previous regulation.
In metric terms, the change is approximately equivalent to decreasing from 21.4 to 14.8 kilometers per liter, according to a report by MarketScreener.
What the Trump administration says
The Secretary of Transportation, Sean P. Duffy, presented the measure on social media as relief for families and a boost for domestic manufacturing.
“Thanks to President Trump's leadership, we have put an end to the illegal mandate that forced manufacturers to produce electric vehicles that American families did not request and that were more expensive.”, Duffy stated in the official press release from the Department of Transportation.
President Donald Trump stated on Truth Social that the measure will "put an end" to the electric vehicle mandate from Biden and Buttigieg, and asserted that over $100 billion is being invested in the automotive industry under his administration.
The administrator of the NHTSA, Jonathan Morrison, stated that the regulation "restores integrity to the national fuel economy program by balancing vehicle affordability and energy conservation goals."
The arguments in favor: prices and security
The government plans a reduction of 1,300 dollars in the average price of a new vehicle and accumulated savings of 138 billion dollars for consumers over five years.
The administration also estimates that more affordable new vehicles would encourage the renewal of the vehicle fleet and could help prevent over 300,000 serious injuries. These figures correspond to government projections regarding the effects of the new regulations.
The administration argues that the previous standards exceeded the limits established by law and effectively operated as a "covert mandate" to promote electric vehicles.
General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis positively assessed the decision.
The regulation also eliminates the CAFE credit trading program starting in model year 2028 and will modify the classification criteria for vehicles beginning in model year 2030 to determine which can be considered light trucks.
This measure is part of a broader policy of automotive deregulation that included tariffs of 25% on cars manufactured outside the U.S.
The worrying consequences: higher spending on gasoline
With the new standards, the average efficiency of the fleet for vehicles of the 2031 model year would be 34.9 miles per gallon, compared to the 50.4 mpg projected under the previous regulation.
Taking both averages as a reference, traveling the same distance would require approximately 44% more fuel. This comparison, however, refers to the averages established for vehicle fleets and does not mean that each car will individually register that increase in consumption.
The impact on drivers' wallets will depend, among other factors, on the vehicle model, the number of miles driven, and the evolution of gasoline prices.
This increase in consumption is especially significant in the current context: a gallon of regular gasoline in the U.S. is around $4.47, compared to $3.13 a year ago.
A interviewed consumer summed up the dilemma: “I prefer to spend less, right? What’s the point of paying for a cheap car? I’m still going to spend on gasoline.”
Environmental groups announce legal actions
Ecological organizations such as Sierra Club rejected the measure and announced that they will challenge it in court.
“This is a step backward. We are going to take legal action because manufacturers already have better technologies and this is not beneficial for families,” stated a representative of the Sierra Club to Noticias Telemundo.
Katherine García, the transportation campaign director for the Sierra Club, warned that reduced efficiency standards "will make driving more expensive," at a time when fuel prices are already putting pressure on the budgets of millions of American households.
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