President Donald Trump’s administration finalized a rollback of federal fuel economy standards Monday, projecting roughly $1,300 in savings on the average new vehicle under its “Freedom Means Affordable Cars” initiative.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the changes, which reset corporate average fuel economy standards for passenger cars and light trucks from model years 2022 through 2031.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s final rule estimates an average reduction of $1,289 in new-vehicle costs for model year 2031 compared with retaining the previous standards, assuming manufacturers pass the savings to buyers.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the administration unveiled its proposal in December 2025. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s initial estimate put average new-vehicle savings at $1,000.
Changing rules for automakers
“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we have finally ended the illegal mandate that forced automakers to produce more expensive electric vehicles that American families didn’t want,” Duffy said in the press release.
The administration argues that the previous standards exceeded federal law and pressured manufacturers to produce electric vehicles.
The CAFE program sets fuel economy requirements for automakers’ vehicle fleets. NHTSA projects the new standards will correspond to a fleetwide average requirement of 34.9 miles per gallon in model year 2031, compared with 49.3 mpg under the previous standards.
The rule ends credit trading between manufacturers starting in model year 2028 and changes vehicle classifications beginning in model year 2030.
Those classification changes will move more crossovers into the passenger-car category. DOT expects the regulatory fleet mix to shift from roughly 70% light trucks to about 70% passenger cars, reducing incentives to modify vehicles to qualify for less stringent truck standards.
Savings and safety projections
NHTSA projects about 1,900 fewer traffic deaths and more than 300,000 fewer nonfatal injuries through 2050 compared with retaining the previous standards.
Its model attributes most of that reduction to people driving less as per-mile fuel costs rise. Replacing older vehicles with newer ones contributes a smaller share of the projected safety gains.
“This rule restores integrity to the national fuel economy program, balancing vehicle affordability and energy conservation goals while improving safety on our roadways,” NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison said in the release.
The agency also projects 4.6% higher gasoline consumption through 2050 than under the previous standards, although total fuel use would decline over time under either approach.
The rule takes effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
Provided by Dallas Express
