Trump proposes easing fuel rules, in boost for automakers, despite emissions

BUSINESS / Economy

Trump proposes easing fuel rules, in boost for automakers, despite emissions

U.S. President Donald Trump announces his administration will ease fuel economy standards, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington on Wednesday. A reduction to the standards, proposed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, would cost Americans an additional $185 billion in fuel and increase carbon dioxide emissions by about 5%. | Reuters

By David Shepardson
Reuters

Dec 4, 2025

WASHINGTON – U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday proposed slashing fuel economy standards that former U.S. President Joe Biden finalized last year, in a push to make it easier for automakers to sell gasoline-powered cars.

Trump said the move was about reversing Biden’s efforts to force more Americans to buy electric vehicles. “People want the gasoline car,” Trump said.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed significantly reducing the fuel economy requirements from model years 2022 to 2031, requiring 14.7 kilometers per liter on average by 2031, down from 21.4 km per liter.