A coalition of 26 state attorneys general, led by West Virginia and Kentucky, have come together to challenge the Biden administration’s recently finalized fuel economy rules. They argue that these requirements are unworkable and would force automakers to produce more electric vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on June 7 that they would be tightening vehicle fuel economy standards through 2031, though the final rules were less stringent than initially proposed.
NHTSA’s new regulations would increase corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) requirements to around 50.4 miles per gallon (mpg) by 2031, up from the current 39.1 mpg. This is only slightly higher than the 49 mpg that was previously required for 2026. The attorneys general contend that these requirements would pose challenges for automakers and could potentially hinder innovation in the industry.
The coalition of state attorneys general is pushing back against the Biden administration’s fuel economy rules, arguing that they are unsustainable and would force automakers to prioritize electric vehicles. They are concerned that these regulations could have negative implications for the industry and impede technological progress in vehicle manufacturing. The debate surrounding fuel economy standards continues as different stakeholders weigh in on the potential impact of these regulations.