Trump slashes US fuel efficiency targets to 34.5 mpg, reversing Biden EV push

Key points

• Trump announced new fuel economy standards on September 26, 2026, via social media, labeling previous rules an 'EV mandate'.
• The new standards lower the fleetwide average target for light-duty vehicles to approximately 34.5 miles per gallon by 2031.
• This represents a drop of over 30 percent from the Biden-era target of 50.4 miles per gallon for the same year.
• Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the details would be released on Monday, September 28.
• The move aligns with the Republican-controlled Congress's removal of electric vehicle tax incentives in the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act'.

Background

This policy shift follows a broader trend of the Trump administration reversing Biden-era environmental regulations. In late 2025, Trump proposed the specific 34.5 mpg target, which was previously rejected by some industry stakeholders. Recent polls indicate that while voters blame the current administration for economic issues, affordability remains the primary concern, influencing the political landscape surrounding these regulatory changes.

How outlets are covering it

Al Jazeera emphasizes that the term 'EV mandate' is a political misnomer, as no federal law requires consumers to buy electric vehicles or bans petrol cars. They highlight that the CAFE system simply requires automakers to meet average efficiency targets across their fleets. CNBC focuses on the economic implications, noting that weaker standards allow manufacturers to produce more profitable pickup trucks and SUVs, which have worse gas mileage. Both sources agree that the final details of the new standards were not fully disclosed in the initial announcement, with Trump claiming the changes will lower prices for families, while critics argue the move weakens US competitiveness against global electric vehicle trends.

Why it matters

The rollback of fuel economy standards signals a significant shift in US automotive policy, potentially slowing the transition to electric vehicles. By lowering efficiency targets, the administration aims to reduce production costs for automakers and lower consumer prices, but this may increase long-term fuel costs and emissions. The move also reflects a broader divergence between US policy and global trends favoring lower-emission vehicles, impacting the competitiveness of US automakers in international markets.

What to watch

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is expected to release the detailed specifications of the new fuel economy standards on Monday, September 28, 2026. The White House has not yet provided further comment on the announcement. Automakers, including General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis, will need to adjust their production strategies to comply with the new, lower efficiency targets, potentially shifting focus back to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles.