US Loosens Fuel Economy Rules: 34.9 MPG by 2031 Instead of 50.4

NHTSA finalized far less stringent CAFE standards requiring automakers to hit 34.9 mpg across light-duty fleets by 2031, down from the 50.4 mpg Biden-era target. The agency's own 892-page rule projects 36–128 billion extra gallons of gasoline consumed by 2050 and emissions by 2035 equal to 17 million additional vehicles on the road.

• New CAFE target is 34.9 mpg by 2031, down from 50.4 mpg under Biden
• NHTSA projects 36–128 billion extra gallons of gasoline consumed by 2050
• Formaldehyde emissions could rise 12.6%; CO2 up 1 billion metric tons by 2050
• NHTSA estimates the rule cuts average upfront vehicle cost by $1,290