NHTSA Urged to Maintain Fuel Economy Standards - CleanTechnica

A coalition of health, consumer, and environmental groups has urged the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to withdraw its proposal to weaken Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks. The proposed rule would reduce the fleetwide average fuel economy target to 34.5 miles per gallon by 2031, which is below current fleet performance. Critics argue this rollback would increase lifetime fuel costs for drivers by approximately $1,400, outweighing any upfront vehicle savings, while making vehicles less affordable and less efficient overall. The groups contend that the weakened standards would harm American families by raising fuel expenses and worsening air pollution, thereby negatively impacting public health. Representatives from organizations including the Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Center for Biological Diversity, Public Citizen Litigation Group, and Environmental Defense Fund emphasize that the proposal prioritizes oil industry profits over consumer savings and environmental progress. They warn that the rollback reverses decades of advancements toward cleaner, more