mobile-menu-icon
GM Authority

Trump Administration Plans To Freeze Fuel Economy Targets Delayed

Last August, the Trump administration said it was preparing to overturn Obama administration-era regulations for emissions and fuel economy, but now, it appears the effort has stalled somewhat.

According to a report from The Detroit News on Tuesday, the new regulations won’t be released until after Labor Day at the earliest. The original plan was to have things finalized in June, a source speaking on the condition of anonymity told the newspaper. The source is a former EPA official who added the economic and scientific analysis for the new regulations has taken longer than expected.

While officials still hash things out, the regulations will be sent to the White House in the coming weeks.

President Donald Trump speaks at campaign rally

The EPA proposed freezing fuel economy targets at 2020 levels or 37 mpg. That’s 10 mpg off from current regulations, which called for fuel efficiency to rise throughout next decade to 47 mpg. Automakers lobbied for more relaxed standards, but groups representing major automakers have said the Trump administration plan goes too far. General Motors has said it’s still committed to an all-electric future despite what federal regulations occur. Still, some prominent GM shareholders have urged GM to go further and push back on the proposed changes.

GM has also called for one national fuel economy standard, rather than technically operating under two. Right now, California possesses a waiver to set its own standards that more than a dozen other states follow. The Trump administration has also proposed doing away with California’s right to the waiver. Should the final regulations include a revoked California waiver, it may set the stage for massive states’ rights court battles—a scenario automakers want to avoid in fear of uncertainty while planning future products.

President Donald Trump

Talks between the federal government and California government officials broke down earlier this year.

Subscribe to GM Authority for more auto industry news and around-the-clock GM news coverage.

Source: The Detroit News

Former GM Authority staff writer.

Subscribe to GM Authority

For around-the-clock GM news coverage

We'll send you one email per day with the latest GM news. It's totally free.

Comments

  1. States’ Rights!

    Reply
  2. I fear when the shift to EV’s truly does come, our manufacturers will be so far behind. Hope I am wrong and I am Happy to hear GM is still Full Speed ahead in EV’s

    Reply
  3. Gm needs to build what it’s customers want. An all electric future is never going to happen unless the government makes it mandatory and then our highways will look like Cuba. Everyone will be driving 50 year old patched together car and Gm will be bankrupt again. These environmental nuts are going to destroy the auto industry for no reason other then to make themselves feel better.

    Reply
    1. Amen. It feels great to know there is at least one other being out there with his head screwed on right.

      Reply
    2. In 10 years you won’t be saying that. In a generation the young people will gasp at the thought of gas cars.

      Reply
  4. Everywhere I turn, including here, there seems to be a liberal media out to marginalize everything Trump is trying to do. The Auto industry could use a regulation break. You talk about State’s rights, what about consumer rights to buy whatever the hell they want the way they want it. It used to be automakers supplied a demand, now they are trying to shove crap down consumers throats. Until there is a massive improvement in battery tech, the EV is a niche vehicle at best. So cut the nonsense. The auto industry has gone total libtard.

    Reply
    1. Go back to your basement and work on your trains. 22.4 trillion in debt is not making america great. Send little donnie boy back to teevee where he came from.

      Reply
      1. please explain how what trump had done as president has affected your life directly. the president does not put out the national budget congress does

        Reply
        1. “CONGRESS THINK’S THEY HAVE A $100+ TRILLION BUDGET”!? “[WHO ARE THEY GOING TO GET THAT KIND OF MONEY FROM]” (MY OPINION IS FROM THE DRUG TRADE)?! >BY THE WAY THEY ARE SPENDING MONEY<

          Reply
  5. the auto companies want to be looked as high tech companies so people buy their stock. once GM said it was going to a high % EVs the stock value doubled.

    Reply

Leave a comment

Cancel