US CAFE Rollback Closes the 'Light Truck' Loophole From 2030

The Trump administration announced a sweeping overhaul of US emissions rules. Starting with model year 2030, NHTSA will scrap the 1975 light-truck criteria and replace them with a single Light Duty Work Factor — the sum of towing and payload capacity — with a threshold of 8,500 pounds. Crossovers now classified as trucks would be judged as passenger cars.

• From 2030, light-truck status hinges on LDWF — towing plus payload capacity
• Threshold for non-passenger automobile status is an LDWF of 8,500 pounds
• The 1975 criteria (approach angles, clearance, 4WD) are being dropped
• Light-truck emissions limits ease, but the category itself shrinks