Trump Rolls Back Fuel Economy Standards. Will Cars Really Get Cheaper?

The Trump Administration released a rule on Monday to roll back Biden-era fuel economy standards, saying that the Biden Administration “previously broke the law by setting standards that went far beyond the requirements mandated by Congress” and arguing that they pushed for electric vehicles that Americans did not want.The announcement, which came from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, said that the previous regulations had been costly for automakers. The changes are meant to reduce their costs and encourage manufacturers to expand production in the U.S. Duffy claimed that, by extension, the rollbacks would make new cars more affordable for Americans.When it was first proposed in December 2025, the rule was divisive, drawing ire from environmental advocates while garnering praise from auto-industry trade groups. The Administration finalized it last week with a signoff from President Donald Trump. The President commented on the forthcoming rule Sept. 26, saying the new standards would “take the waste out of building cars in America.”“That means LOWER PRICES, saving families thousands on a new, beautiful, and safe car,” he wrote on Truth Social.The claim that the revisions will pa...