With gas prices averaging $4.50 per gallon, President Donald Trump is expected Monday to significantly roll back fuel economy requirements for new vehicles — a move that could lower car prices but mean more frequent trips to the gas station.
The national average fuel economy for a new vehicle currently sits at around 27 miles per gallon, according to the EPA.
Under rules set during the Biden administration, automakers would have been required to average around 50 miles per gallon across their fleets by 2031. Trump is expected to slash that target to around 34 mpg by the same year.
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Trump previewed the announcement on social media.
"BIG DAY FOR AMERICAN AUTO WORKERS AND CAR BUYERS," Trump wrote, suggesting lower mpg requirements will make it easier for automakers to lower prices.
"These new Standards will take the waste out of building cars in America. That means LOWER PRICES, saving families thousands on a new, beautiful, and safe car," he added.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also weighed in ahead of the announcement.
"A major victory for America's auto workers is COMING MONDAY," Duffy said.
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The rollback is a significant defeat for environmentalists who had been pushing for higher standards to help address climate change.
While lower mpg requirements could mean more frequent trips to the gas station in the future, Trump's proposed standard of around 34 mpg would still be higher than the fuel economy of most vehicles currently on car lots.
