Trump finalizes rule to make cars less fuel efficient

<figure> <img alt="" data-caption="President Donald Trump announces plans to weaken fuel efficiency and emissions rules for cars and trucks in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, on December 3rd, 2025. | Photo: Getty Images" data-portal-copyright="Photo: Getty Images" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/gettyimages-2250207971.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> President Donald Trump announces plans to weaken fuel efficiency and emissions rules for cars and trucks in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, on December 3rd, 2025. | Photo: Getty Images </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">The US Department of Transportation <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/president-trump-transportation-secretary-duffy-finalize-freedom-means-affordable-cars">finalized</a> its plans today to weaken fuel efficiency standards, calling it "among the largest deregulatory actions under the second Trump Administration."</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">It's a nail in the coffin for Biden-era <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/new-fuel-economy-standards-model-years-2027-2031">standards</a> that would have required fleet average fuel economy to reach 50.4 miles per gallon by model year 2031. President Donald Trump's plan requires 34.9 miles per gallon, not much higher than the 30.1-mile-per-gallon target previously set for model year 2024.</p> <figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p>Consumer advocacy, health, and environmental groups are incensed</p></blockquote></figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Trump administration claims its plan would shave $1,300 off the average cost of a n …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/1001610/trump-weakens-fuel-efficiency-standards">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>