GoKawiilDOT finalizes CAFE rollback to 34.9 mpg target by 2031
The Department of Transportation issued a final rule cutting Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards to levels lower than those set in 2020, targeting just 34.9 mpg by model year 2031. The rule eliminates emissions credits starting in model year 2028 and removes the favorable treatment that let EVs and plug-in hybrids count as hundreds of mpg toward an automaker's fleet average.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
By stripping out credits and the EV/PHEV mpg boost, the rule removes much of the financial incentive automakers had to build electrified vehicles, which could lead some manufacturers to scale back those programs. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy had already signaled this reversal last year and paused enforcement of existing CAFE penalties dating to 2022, suggesting a broader pullback from fuel-economy enforcement rather than a single rule change.
- New CAFE target set at 34.9 mpg by model year 2031, below 2020-era standards
- Emissions credits will be phased out starting model year 2028
- EVs and plug-in hybrids will no longer get outsized mpg credit toward fleet averages
Chevrolet Bolt EUV (used) — With fuel economy standards being rolled back, an efficient EV like the Bolt EUV lets you sidestep gas costs and emissions regardless of what automakers are required to build. It's a practical way to keep saving fuel even as federal incentives fade. Great for commuters wanting to stay ahead of shifting policy trends.
See Chevrolet Bolt EUV (used) on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: arstechnica.com, 2026-09-28
Published there as: “Trump cuts fuel economy standards back to 2014 levels”
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