Trump plans to lower US fuel-economy targets through 2031

The Trump administration is expected to replace Biden-era fuel-economy rules with much easier targets for new cars and light trucks through the 2031 model year. These rules do not dictate the mileage of every vehicle; they set an average that each automaker’s full lineup must achieve, so a lower target gives companies more room to keep selling gasoline-powered pickups and SUVs. Reports said the proposed 2031 fleet average would fall to roughly 34.5 miles per gallon, from the 50.4 mpg target set under Biden. That does not prohibit electric vehicles, but it removes an important federal incentive for automakers to use EVs and hybrids to raise their fleets’ average efficiency—potentially reducing engineering costs upfront while leaving drivers more exposed to future fuel bills.