Trump is slashing fuel economy standards for cars, cutting the Biden-era 50 mpg target to 34.5 mpg

The Trump administration is set to release new fuel economy standards for cars, according to wire material from Monday. President Trump believes these less stringent mileage requirements will reduce waste in car manufacturing, save families thousands of dollars on new vehicles, and boost domestic production. Under the proposed standards, the fleetwide average fuel efficiency for light-duty vehicles in 2031 would drop from 50.4 miles per gallon under the Biden administration's rules to about 34.5 miles per gallon.

The change is part of Trump's promise to revoke policies that encouraged electric vehicle production. Currently, the average new car in America costs around $50,089, surpassing the $50,000 mark for the first time since last December. Gas prices, however, have risen to an average of $4.47 per gallon, owing to tensions with Iran disrupting fuel supply.

Environmental groups have criticized the proposed rule, asserting that it disregards the feasibility of clean technology and the millions of fuel-efficient cars already on the road. They predict this rollback will lead to increased gas consumption, higher costs at the pump, and worsening air quality.