The Transportation Department has rolled back the Biden administration’s unrealistic fuel-efficiency standards to make cars more affordable with its new initiative, “Freedom Means Affordable Cars.”
The move resets the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards.
The Transportation Department claims the final initiative will:
- Give automakers the flexibility to manufacture cars the public wants to buy
- Reduce the average cost of a new vehicle by $1,300 for American families
- Save the American people $138 billion over the next five years
- Prevent more than 300,000 serious injuries and save 1,900 lives by encouraging new car sales
“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we have finally ended the illegal mandate that forced automakers to produce more expensive electric vehicles that American families didn’t want. While Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg pushed a green agenda that made our roads less safe and drove up costs for hardworking Americans, this administration is delivering relief to families and reviving the beating heart of American manufacturing,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “With our commonsense standards in place, we are making the American dream affordable again, putting safer cars on the road, and investing in the American autoworker.”
The Biden administration set fuel economy standards for light-duty vehicles to reach “an average of 50.4 mpg by model year 2031.” Biden’s handlers did this to push more electric vehicles, even though people didn’t want those vehicles. Leslie covered that topic so many times.
The Trump administration’s new standards hope to “achieve a fleet average fuel economy of 34.9 miles per gallon by model year 2031, up from 30.1 miles per gallon for model year 2024.”
“This rule restores integrity to the national fuel economy program, balancing vehicle affordability and energy conservation goals while improving safety on our roadways,” said NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison. “Newer cars are safer cars. By reducing vehicle prices, more American families will be able to afford newer vehicles, and sensible standards allow automakers more freedom to design and produce vehicles consumers actually want. I’m proud of our fantastic team of expert engineers, economists, and lawyers for the tremendous job they’ve done finalizing this rule.”
People didn’t want electric vehicles. Automakers didn’t want to make electric vehicles their only option.
Toyota Motor CEO Akio Toyoda voiced his concerns in 2022, saying many in the auto industry agree with him.
The auto industry has been slashing electric-vehicle production since sales plunged and more people bought gas-powered vehicles.
Trump has been toying with this idea since he took office. In December 2025, Ford CEO praised Trump for starting the process.
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