NHTSA Resets Rules for Car Fuel Economy Standards
Published Date: 6/11/2025
Rule
Summary
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is clarifying the rules it must follow when setting fuel economy standards for cars, trucks, and big work vehicles. This update affects car makers and truck companies by making sure the rules stick to the law while NHTSA works on new standards. For now, NHTSA will keep enforcing current fuel rules based on this fresh legal interpretation.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
Limits on What NHTSA May Consider
If you design, build, or sell cars or light trucks, NHTSA has published an interpretation clarifying which factors it is prohibited by law from considering when setting maximum feasible fuel economy (CAFE) standards under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. This interpretive rule explains the legal limits the agency will follow when it develops future CAFE standards.
Legal Foundation for Truck Efficiency Program
If you operate or manufacture commercial medium- or heavy-duty on-highway vehicles or work trucks, NHTSA issued an interpretation describing its authority for a MDHD (medium- and heavy-duty) fuel efficiency improvement program and establishing the legal basis to bring that program into compliance with applicable law. The rule sets out how the agency views its authority for MDHD standards.
Continued Enforcement of Current Standards
Pending future rulemaking, NHTSA will continue to enforce all existing CAFE and MDHD fuel economy standards using the agency interpretation set forth in this rule. If you are a car maker or truck company, you must remain subject to enforcement of the current standards under this clarified legal interpretation.
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