Trump Wants to Trade Fuel Economy for Cheaper Cars. But It Might Not Work

"The Trump administration says its proposal to roll back vehicle fuel economy standards, announced officially in the Oval Office on Wednesday, is an attempt to shave dollars off the ballooning cost of new cars in the US. But the intended price drops likely won't show up on dealership lots and showroom floors for months if not years, given the length of automakers' product planning schedule. It would also likely force Americans to pay more, long-term, at another place they tend to visit more frequently: the pump."

"Light duty cars and trucks alone are responsible for some 15 percent of US greenhouse gas emissions, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. The previous administration tried to boost electric vehicle adoption by using tax subsidies for consumers and manufacturers interested in building fuel efficient vehicles and technologies, including batteries. It also introduced penalties for those unable or unwilling to meet stricter environmental standards."

Federal proposal would lower the fleet-wide fuel economy requirement to 34.5 mpg by model year 2031, down from a 50.4 mpg benchmark and a prior Biden-era 49 mpg target for 2026. The Department of Transportation projects roughly $1,000 savings per vehicle and about $109 billion across five years, while new vehicle prices average more than $49,000. Price reductions at dealerships would likely be delayed by automakers' long product-planning cycles. The rollback is expected to raise long-term consumer spending at the pump and represents a broader federal shift away from stricter climate-oriented vehicle policies. Light-duty vehicles account for about 15 percent of US greenhouse gas emissions.

Read at WIRED