Biden Administration Orders 49 MPG Fuel-Economy Standard by 2026
- Carmakers required to increase fuel efficiency by 8% annually
- Rules cover 2024 to 2026 model years; syncing with EPA action
Vehicles eastbound on Interstate 80 in Emeryville, California.
Photographer: David Paul Morris/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
The Biden administration ordered carmakers to increase their average fuel economy to about 49 miles (78.8 kilometers) per gallon by 2026, in an ambitious effort to make up for progress stalled when President Donald Trump rolled back the efficiency program.
The new fuel economy rules, issued Friday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, require carmakers to heighten the fuel-efficiency of their fleets by 8% annually for the 2024 and 2025 model years, and 10% for 2026, according to a senior administration official. The agency was facing a March 31 deadline to finalize new rules for the 2024 model year.