If Cars Are Too Expensive, Just Pump More Gas. What?

The Trump administration has hit upon an unorthodox solution to the cost-of-living crisis: Pumping more gasoline. Executives from Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co. and Stellantis NV attended a White House ceremony on Wednesday afternoon to unveil proposed looser fuel economy standards for vehicles — as well they might.

Pitched as help for the beleaguered consumer, the new fuel economy rules are likely to do more for Detroit’s bottom line; in the near term anyway. President Donald Trump claims American families will save $109 billion over the next five years, relative to the more stringent rules set under his predecessor. Meanwhile, vehicles for model year 2031 will apparently be $925 cheaper than otherwise.