U.S. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday the resetting of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards under the “Freedom Means Affordable Cars” initiative.
Joined by members of Congress and the automobile industry, the Trump Administration stated they would lower the fuel economy standards, which were reset during the Biden Administration.
The Trump Administration claims the action will prevent a $1,000 increase in the cost of new vehicles and save families $109 billion in the next five years.
“We’re bringing back the car industry that was stolen from us,” Trump said during the press conference on Wednesday.
The initiative will reset the CAFE standards for model years through 2031.
NHTSA estimates that the proposed standards would achieve a fleet average fuel economy of 34.5 miles per gallon by model year 2031. The previous proposed standards were to reach 50 miles per gallon by 2031.
“Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg illegally twisted mileage standards to create an electric vehicle mandate — jacking up car prices for American families and forcing manufacturers to produce vehicles no one wanted,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “I’m proud to stand with President Trump in the Oval Office today to say that those days are over. This administration understands that the freedom of every American family starts with affordable cars. That’s why our new standards will make that dream more achievable by letting auto manufacturers produce the cars that fit families’ needs at a lower price.”
A 45-day public comment period will begin when the proposal is published in the Federal Register, and a public hearing will be held at a date to be announced.
