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Environment & Climate

Trump administration rolls back clean vehicle standards for model years 2022 to 2031

The Guardian reports that the Department of Transportation loosened fuel economy rules, citing lower vehicle purchase costs.

The short version

  • The Department of Transportation announced a final rule easing pollution and fuel economy standards for gasoline cars and light trucks spanning model years 2022 through 2031.[The Guardian]
  • Transportation officials project the shift will reduce average new vehicle prices by $1,300, while environmental groups warn it will raise fuel spending and increase emissions.[The Guardian]
  • Advocacy groups, including the Sierra Club, pledged to challenge the regulatory rollback.[The Guardian]

Key facts

  • The Department of Transportation announced a rule relaxing emissions and mileage standards for cars and light trucks for model years 2022 through 2031.[The Guardian]
  • The administration estimates the initiative will reduce average vehicle purchase prices by $1,300 and save consumers $138 billion over five years.[The Guardian]
  • The department previously calculated that relaxing these standards would increase carbon dioxide emissions by about 5% and raise fuel use by roughly 100 billion gallons through 2050.[The Guardian]
  • Transportation accounts for approximately 28% of overall greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, according to the EPA.[The Guardian]

What remains uncertain

  • The full legal fate and final economic impact of the rule remain uncertain as environmental advocacy groups have promised legal resistance.[The Guardian]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.