President Trump approved new fuel-economy standards that end what he calls Biden’s EV mandate and aim to cut car prices for American families. He announced the approval on Saturday, September 26, in a post on Truth Social, and the Transportation Department made the new standards final on Monday, September 28. The Biden rules pushed carmakers to build more electric vehicles to meet rising mileage targets, and Trump says that drove up costs and “forced Americans into cars they never wanted.”
Story Highlights
- Trump said the new standards “TERMINATE” Biden’s EV mandate and mean “LOWER PRICES.”
- The Transportation Department estimates the final rule will cut the average cost of a new vehicle by up to $1,300.
- The 2031 target drops to a fleet average of 34.9 miles per gallon, down from 50.4 miles per gallon under Biden.
- The rollback eases pressure on automakers to build electric vehicles.
Trump’s Move: Cut Red Tape, Ease EV Pressure
Trump did not mince words. “I have just approved new Fuel Economy Standards that TERMINATE Sleepy Joe Biden and Pete Boot-EDGE-EDGE’s ridiculous EV Mandate,” he wrote. He said the old rules cost automakers billions and wasted money on chargers that were never built. The Transportation Department made the new standards final on Monday, September 28. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, “This administration is delivering relief to families and reviving the beating heart of American manufacturing.”
Trump tied the rollback to family budgets. “That means LOWER PRICES, saving families thousands on a new, beautiful, and safe car,” he wrote. The Transportation Department’s own number is up to $1,300: that is how much it estimates the final rule will cut the average cost of a new vehicle, with $138 billion in consumer savings over five years. It is an estimate, not a price cut already seen on dealer lots. For buyers facing high payments and insurance bills, even a few hundred dollars matters. The goal is simple: reduce forced technology costs and let the market set the mix of engines and models.
What Changes: From 50.4 mpg To 34.9 mpg
The new standards set a fleet average of 34.9 miles per gallon by 2031, well below the 50.4 miles per gallon path set under President Biden. That eases the pressure on full-size pickups, large sport-utility vehicles, and work vehicles that many families and small businesses depend on. It ends the steep climb that had pushed automakers toward more electric vehicles and costly efficiency parts. Automakers gain room to build what buyers want.
The department made the standards final on Monday, so this is now official policy, not just talk. The change pulls back a web of rules that shaped what cars reached showrooms. Under the old path, many companies leaned on electric vehicles and expensive parts to hit fleet goals. By resetting the bar, the administration says it will cut the costs of meeting the rules, costs that often pass into sticker prices and monthly payments.
Prices, Savings, And The Trade-Offs
The $1,300 savings estimate comes from the administration’s own analysis of the final rule. When it proposed the rollback, the same department projected that the lower targets would raise fuel use by about 100 billion gallons through 2050 and add about $185 billion in fuel spending. Those are the two sides of the ledger: a lower price up front, and more spent at the pump over time.
Supporters say lighter rules cut red tape, lower costs, and protect choice for rural drivers, tradesmen, and big families who need larger vehicles. Critics argue that weaker standards shift costs to fuel spending and raise emissions. The department itself estimated carbon dioxide emissions would rise by about 5 percent. The policy fight is clear: up-front affordability and consumer choice versus long-run efficiency.
Why It Matters To Your Family Budget
Car payments and insurance take a big bite out of family budgets. A regulatory reset that reduces forced costs can help. If the savings flow through, as the administration projects, buyers could see relief on the models most affected by the old rules, like trucks and large sport-utility vehicles. That matters in the heartland, where those vehicles are tools, not luxuries. Easing the mandate also supports jobs tied to traditional American manufacturing, rather than locking buyers into one political vision for transportation.
Here is the bottom line. Trump approved lower fuel-economy standards, the Transportation Department made them final, and what he calls Biden’s EV mandate is over. The 2031 target drops from 50.4 miles per gallon to 34.9 miles per gallon, and the Transportation Department estimates average new-vehicle costs could fall by up to $1,300. Families can track dealer prices in the months ahead to see how much relief reaches the lot.
