• Trump announces a plan to relax vehicle fuel economy standards set under Biden.
• The new proposal would lower efficiency requirements to about 34.5 miles per gallon by 2031.
• Support from automakers contrasts with significant backlash from environmental groups.
• The rollbacks are expected to save car manufacturers billions but increase fuel costs for consumers.
• Critics highlight potential negative impacts on climate and public health due to increased emissions.

President Donald Trump has announced a proposal to significantly roll back vehicle fuel economy standards established under the Biden administration. This plan, which was unveiled during a White House event with major automakers present, aims to adjust the efficiency requirements that dictate how far vehicles must travel on a gallon of gasoline. The new regulations would set the industry average for light-duty vehicles at roughly 34.5 miles per gallon by the year 2031, a decrease from the approximately 50 miles per gallon mandated by previous standards, according to ABC News, Los Angeles Times, and CBS News.

At the heart of Trump's announcement is the assertion that the previous standards imposed “expensive restrictions” on the automotive industry, leading to higher car prices for consumers. He has termed the rollback as a "win for customers and common sense," echoing sentiments from industry leaders, including Ford CEO Jim Farley and Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa, who claim the changes align fuel economy standards with “market realities” and potentially lower vehicle costs by around $1,000 for consumers. This narrative, however, is met with skepticism from environmentalists who argue that the removal of stringent mileage requirements threatens public health and contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions, according to BBC and NPR.

Under the Biden administration's standards, automakers were required to improve average fuel economy progressively, with approximately a 2% increase each year until 2031. Trump's proposed changes would reverse this to an annual increase of only 0.5%, allowing for potentially more pollutive vehicles to remain on the road longer. Critics of the rollback emphasize that it not only exacerbates climate change consequences but also undermines efforts to transition toward cleaner electric vehicles, as the industry remains heavily reliant on gasoline-powered cars, according to Al Jazeera and Los Angeles Times.

The response from environmental organizations has been overwhelming negative, with figures like Dan Becker from the Center for Biological Diversity stating that the rollback will worsen issues related to global warming and public health, particularly affecting younger and older populations. Becker's statement underscores concerns that relaxing fuel efficiency rules will increase oil dependency and harms the prospects for American manufacturers as they compete with foreign automakers in the green technology sector, as highlighted in reports from CBS News and BBC.

As the proposal moves forward, it will undergo a public commentary period before any final rules are set, leaving it open for further scrutiny and debate from various stakeholders, including automakers, environmental advocates, and consumers. Questions remain about how these proposed changes will impact fuel prices and greenhouse gas emissions long-term, according to NPR and CBS News.