New cars sold in the US will be allowed to burn more fuel under a federal rollback of future emission standards. Under the latest federal plan, 2031 models may use up to 6.82 liters per 100 kilometers, up from the earlier target of 4.70 liters, a 45% increase in permitted fuel use. The change gives combustion engines a second wind in the world’s second-largest car market.
This is a major shift for automakers. The Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard, which has pushed brands to make cars more efficient, is losing its bite. The new plan slows efforts to reduce fuel use and lets car companies keep selling gasoline models without breaking the rules. In US figures, the 2031 target drops from 50 to 34.5 miles per gallon, affecting drivers’ fuel costs. The final rule from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), as reported by Reuters, puts the actual 2031 target at 34.9 mpg, or about 6.74 liters per 100 kilometers. Earlier drafts set it at 34.5 mpg, so both figures appear in official documents and news reports. Reuters reported that the US Department of Transportation announced the completion of the new, less stringent CAFE standards on September 28, 2026.
For drivers covering 15,000 kilometers a year, the new rules could mean more than 300 extra liters of fuel per car, roughly an additional tank every few months. The administration says the change will help families by making new cars cheaper. It says buyers could save thousands of euros per car, enough for a used compact in Spain. Reuters reports that US officials estimate average savings of about $930 per new vehicle. Automakers would also face lower compliance costs.
The timing matters. Diesel prices are at record highs, and gasoline is still expensive in September. The White House sees high fuel costs as a political risk ahead of November’s elections. Its pitch links fewer rules to cheaper cars, with more jobs in US factories as another promise. Industry and oil groups, which have long called the old targets unrealistic and too pro-electric, face less pressure on their businesses. The administration has called the proposal a win for American autoworkers. Politico and Reuters report that carmakers and oil industry leaders have welcomed the rollback, citing years of complaints about the cost and difficulty of the old standards.
Some major carmakers are already scaling back electric vehicle plans and putting more money into gasoline models that sell faster and generate steady profits. The US risks falling behind as China advances in batteries and electric cars, while Europe sticks to its zero-emission path. If America continues betting on gasoline, it may end up buying technology from abroad, potentially costing US industry jobs and ground.
Reuters projects that the relaxed standards will increase US fuel consumption by about 100 billion gallons by 2050, adding roughly $185 billion in fuel costs and raising CO₂ emissions by 5% compared with previous targets.
For Spanish drivers, the direct impact is almost zero: US policy will not lower American car prices in Spain. But when the world’s second-biggest car market loosens its rules, the push for electrification looks less certain across Brussels and the car market, including for buyers. Europe remains on track to ban new combustion cars by 2035, and its emission rules are reviewed every few years. The US has given itself more time and tied the change to the November vote. The final rule is not set yet, and the industry will have its say before anything is final.
This is not the first sharp change in US fuel rules. Past administrations have also rolled back efficiency targets, shaking up the global car market and raising questions for European suppliers and climate policy.
The US is betting on cheaper cars and stable factories for now, but its rivals are not slowing down. American combustion engines get a break today; the long-term cost could be lost technological leadership and greater reliance on foreign new idea.
