TRUMP announces plans to weaken fuel‑efficiency rules for cars and trucks

Thursday, December 4, 2025 -Donald Trump on Wednesday unveiled a major rollback of U.S. federal fuel‑economy and tailpipe‑emissions standards for cars and light trucks. 

Under his plan, the fleet‑wide average fuel‑efficiency target would be cut to about 34.5 miles per gallon by 2031 — down sharply from roughly 50.4 mpg mandated under Joe Biden’s administration.

The move, backed by top automaker executives, is justified by the administration as a way to make vehicles more affordable and improve consumer choice by easing “burdensome” regulations. But critics — including environmental groups — argue the rollback will lead to higher gasoline consumption, greater air pollution, and a setback in efforts to fight climate change.

With this policy shift, automakers may find it easier to ramp up production of traditional gasoline vehicles instead of investing in electric vehicles (EVs). At the same time, the change could lock in higher ongoing fuel costs and increased emissions for years to come.