Environmental groups are suing over the Trump administration’s proposal to weaken federal fuel economy standards for U.S. cars. The dispute could affect how much drivers spend on fuel and what vehicles automakers offer in coming years.
What Does the Lawsuit Challenge?
The Sierra Club, Environmental Defense Fund and Center for Biological Diversity said in an Oct. 2 news release that they filed suit asking a court to stop the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) from lowering the required fleetwide average fuel economy. The administration’s proposal would reduce the standard from more than 50 miles per gallon by 2031 to just under 35 mpg.
The groups say NHTSA ignored its own analysis showing that weaker fuel rules would leave drivers paying more at the pump. The administration says lower requirements could make vehicles less expensive.
“We’re taking the Trump administration to court for this reckless rollback that prioritizes Big Oil and automaker profits over American families,” said Katherine Garcia, Sierra Club’s Clean Transportation for All director.
Administration officials say lowering fuel economy requirements could reduce car costs by an average of about $1,300 over the long term. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the rules had pushed automakers to produce more expensive electric vehicles. Automakers have supported the proposed change; the Alliance for Automotive Innovation said NHTSA better aligned the standards with the law and current market conditions.
Why Is the Administration Seeking a Rollback?
The Transportation Department says the change would give automakers more flexibility to build vehicles consumers want and could lower sticker prices. The agency also says cheaper cars could help more Americans buy newer vehicles with additional safety features.
Last month, the average U.S. new-vehicle price neared a record $50,000. NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison supported the reduced mileage requirements, saying lower vehicle prices could make newer cars more accessible.
What Could the Change Mean for Drivers?
The average U.S. gas price was $4.30 on Friday, Oct. 2, according to AAA. Environmental groups say drivers need fuel-efficient choices while prices remain elevated. They point to NHTSA’s analysis, which estimated that motorists would spend an additional $1,624 on gas over the life of a car bought under the proposed rules.
Under the agency’s analysis, gas costs for a car purchased under the 2011 model-year requirements were estimated at $15,333. That figure rises to $16,957 under the proposed lower-mileage rules. NHTSA said some benefits would be lower because the proposed standards are less stringent.
If the proposal takes effect, car buyers could have fewer highly fuel-efficient options in the next several years. The current rules, enacted under the Biden administration, call for automakers’ fleets to average more than 50 mpg by 2031; the proposal would lower that figure to just under 35 mpg.
For a car with an average-size, 15-gallon tank, a vehicle getting 35 mpg would travel about 125 fewer miles per fill-up than one getting 50 mpg. Automakers averaged about 27 mpg last year, which works out to roughly 375 miles per tank, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. NHTSA sets fuel economy standards, while the EPA regulates air pollution and tailpipe emissions.
The fuel economy rules have shifted across administrations. The first Trump administration moved to roll back standards enacted under President Barack Obama; the Biden administration later restored those rules, and the Trump administration has now proposed another reduction. Each administration’s proposal was ultimately finalized.
Environmental groups say the rollback would leave consumers with fewer efficient choices. “Consumers need more fuel-efficient choices when considering new cars, and they deserve vehicles that get more miles per gallon and miles per dollar,” said Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen.
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