The federal government issued final regulations implementing an agreement reached with auto industry representatives and California regulators on fuel economy and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions limits for model-year ’17–’25 vehicles. The fleetwide average will rise from 34.5 mpg at the end of 2016 to 54.5 mpg for model-year 2025—a nearly 5% annual increase with slightly lower standards for light-duty trucks. 

The agreement preserves California’s authority to regulate CO2 emissions and other greenhouse gases while creating a single national standard. CO2 emissions and fuel economy are linked since carbon dioxide is a byproduct of fossil-fuel combustion. The automakers pursued an agreement to increase fuel economy, which would also preserve affordability, vehicle choice, jobs and safety. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.