Automakers ask Trump to roll back fuel efficiency rules

An automakers industry group is asking President-elect Donald Trump to roll back fuel efficiency standards issued during the Obama administration. 

In a Thursday letter to Trump’s transition team, the Alliance of Automobile Manufactures asked the incoming Trump administration to “harmonize and adjust” the mileage rules, essentially rolling back the stout standards established by Obama. 

{mosads}“The combination of low gas prices and the existing fuel efficiency gains from the early years of the program is undercutting consumer willingness to buy the vehicles with more expensive alternative powertrains that are necessary for the sector to comply with the more stringent standards in out-years,” the group wrote.

A 2012 mandate from the Transportation Department and Environmental Protection Agency directed automakers to increase their fuel efficiency standards to 54.5 miles per gallon. 

The rule is a major part of the Obama administration’s energy and environment portfolio: officials have estimated higher gasoline mileage limits would save consumers trillions of dollars in fuel costs and cut gasoline consumption in the United States. 

But the auto industry is concerned about the rule, saying it’s had difficulties raising fuel efficiency standards due to the buying habits of American drives, which still trend towards larger vehicles.

A report issued in July also concluded automakers are unlikely to hit the 54.5 mpg goal. 

A Trump administration, the Alliance wrote in its letter, should find “a pathway forward” on fuel efficiency for vehicles starting in model year 2022.