Trump embraces gas guzzling and air pollution by weakening fuel economy standards

President Donald Trump announced a new plan that would allow automakers to pollute more by manufacturing less fuel-efficient vehicles. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) He said today that he will back down Fuel economy The rules are finally finalized Year by Biden administration for 2022-2031 vehicles.

The Trump administration has Eliminate incentives to purchase electric cars, Energy efficiency is at a disadvantage Politics and gutted Pollution regulations In general. The president wants the United States to produce more oil and gas, and says his agenda will boost business for American automakers. Critics assert that Americans will ultimately pay the price for these measures in higher fuel costs, as well as health risks and climate disasters caused by automobile exhaust emissions.

“Lowering fuel economy standards will increase costs for drivers and threaten the progress made in reducing dangerous air pollution and preventing adverse health outcomes for children, seniors and communities living near busy roads,” Darren Davis, government affairs advocate on climate change and clean energy at the League of Conservation Voters, said in an emailed statement to . Edge.

NHTSA has proposed a federal fuel economy standard of about 34.5 miles per gallon of gas by 2031. That’s well below the limit set by Biden last year to reach an average of about 50.4 miles per gallon by 2031.

Agency previously estimated The higher standards set in 2024 would collectively save Americans $23 billion in fuel costs over the years, or about $600 per passenger car and light truck owner over the life of their vehicle. The rules were expected to cut gasoline use by 70 billion gallons through 2050. This would avoid 710 million metric tons of planet-warming carbon dioxide pollution. vs To take more than 165.6 million gas-guzzling passenger cars off the road for a year. Trump claimed without evidence that the latest measure would cut the price of a car by $1,000, while clean energy advocates expect the rollback to push up fuel costs.

GM paid $128.2 million in CAFE penalties for 2016 and 2017. Reuters Reports. Stellantis, which owns Chrysler, has paid more than $590 million in fines since 2016. Leadership from both companies joined the president in the Oval Office today as he announced the new CAFE standards.

“We just set you free, so you’re going to have a good day, and you’re going to have a great number of years,” Trump told auto industry leaders during the announcement.

Jim Farley, Ford’s CEO, later responded, saying, “Today is a victory for common sense and affordability.”