Trump Administration Looks to Solidify Rollback of Fuel Economy Regulations
【Summary】The White House Office of Management and Budget received a final version of the Trump Administration’s plans to rollback strict fuel economy mandates set in place by the Obama administration.

According to a report by The Detroit News, the Trump administration is moving forward with its plans of introducing a rollback of fuel economy regulations that were put into place by the Obama administration. The outlet states that the White House Office of Management and Budget has received a final version of the administration's plan to review. The battle to rollback fuel economy regulations has been a war the Trump administration has been fighting since President Donald Trump took office.
Official Details Are Still Up In The Air
While details of the final version of the administration's plans haven't been made public yet, The Detroit News claims that the required annual fleetwide average mpg increase for automakers will shrink from 5 percent to 1.5 percent for vehicles from model years 2021 to 2026. The plan also includes the Trump administration's proposition to take away California's ability to set its own emissions regulations. That little caveat was introduced by the administration last September.
Taking a little stroll down memory lane reveals that fuel economy regulations has been something the Trump administration has been looking to roll back for years. Initially, the administration proposed freezing fuel economy regulations at 2020 levels until 2026 for automakers. The newly proposed 1.5 percent annual increase isn't nearly as strict as the 5 percent put into place by President Barack Obama, but is far better than a freeze.
Controversy with fuel economy regulations, automakers, and lawmakers erupted last November. Before the end of 2019, California and 13 other states sued the government over the rollback in regulations. Automakers took things into their own hands by reaching an agreement with California to raise fuel economy regulations on their own accord. BMW, Volkswagen, Ford, and Honda all reached an agreement with the state to improve fleet-wide fuel economy to 50 mpg by 2026.
Differing Opinions On Regulations
Adding more fuel to the flames, General Motors, the Association of Global Automakers, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and Toyota took sides with the Trump administration in the hopes that the federal government would set a single mandate for the country to follow. The latest plan is seen as a way to appease all of the parties included.
"While the draft will not become public until OMB completes the review and the rule is published, EPA and NHTSA firmly believe this rule will benefit all Americans by improving the U.S. fleet's fuel economy, reducing air pollution, helping make new vehicles more affordable for all Americans," said the NHTSA in a statement.
Unfortunately, Luke Tonachel, director of clean vehicles and fuels at the Natural Resources Defense Council, is criticizing the Trump administration's plans to go through with the rollback. "The Trump administration keeps trying to manufacture a reason to gut these commonsense, existing tailpipe standards – but there isn't one," Tonachel told the outlet. Tonachel went on to claim that the new plan would likely "result in a dramatic rollback, with huge increases in pollution, massive job losses and billions of dollars in added costs to consumers."
-
2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Now PHEV Only
-
Acura Prevision EV Concept Previews Brand’s Electric Future
-
Hyundai Gets Serious About Electric Performance Cars, Shows off Two Concepts
-
Ford Looks to Have 100% of EV Sales Be Online
-
Volkswagen CEO Believes It Will Overtake Tesla in EV Sales by 2025
-
Report Claims Nissan Leaf Will Be Discontinued by 2025
-
Autonomous Vehicles Will Require Cities to Change Their Transportation Methods
-
Rivian, Mercedes-Benz Partner to Produce Electric Commercial Vans
- Ford Looks to Have 100% of EV Sales Be Online
- Struggling Electric Vehicle Startup Faraday Future Signs Deal to Raise up to $350 Million in Financing to Help it Stay Afloat
- Tesla Rival XPeng Inc. to Start Deliveries of its New Flagship G9 Electric SUV in September, CEO Confirms After Sharing New Details
- Vietnam-based Electric Vehicle Startup VinFast Ships its First Vehicles to the U.S.
- EV Charging Provider Electrify America Raises $450 Million, Siemens to Become a Minority Shareholder
- Volvo’s Brand Polestar Confirms That the Polestar 6 Electric Roadster Will Enter Production and Launch in 2026
- Tesla Challenger NIO Inc Reports its Highest-Ever Monthly Sales in June
- Volvo is Building a New EV Service and Training Facility at its U.S. Headquarters in New Jersey To Fast Track its Electrification Plans
- Ford Reportedly Dropping 2024 Mustang Hybrid
- Zeekr’s New 009 Electric Passenger Van is the World’s First EV to Feature CATL’s Advanced ‘Qilin’ Battery With a Range of 510 Miles