The US government has unveiled a plan to relax future car emission standards, granting automakers more leeway to sell combustion vehicles. The move shifts the regulatory landscape and could reshape the global race toward electrification.
New cars in America could soon burn more fuel. The US government is rolling back future emission standards. Under the latest federal plan, 2031 models may use up to 6.82 liters per 100 kilometers. That is a big jump from the earlier target of 4.70 liters. The change means a 45% increase in allowed fuel use. Combustion engines get a second wind in the world’s second-largest car market.
This is not a minor tweak 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 the push for lower fuel use. Car companies can keep selling gasoline models without breaking the rules. In US numbers, the target drops from 50 to 34.5 miles per gallon for 2031. That hits drivers at the pump. According to the final rule from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), as reported by Reuters, the actual 2031 target is 34.9 mpg, or about 6.74 liters per 100 kilometers. Earlier drafts had set it at 34.5 mpg, so both numbers appear in official documents and news reports.
The US Department of Transportation announced the completion of the new, less stringent CAFE standards on September 28, 2026, marking a definitive regulatory shift.
What does this mean for drivers? Over a year of 15,000 kilometers, the new rules mean each car could use over 300 extra liters of fuel. That is not small change. It is like adding an extra tank every few months. The administration says the move will help families by making new cars cheaper. They claim it could save buyers thousands of euros per car—enough for a used compact in Spain. Reuters reports US officials estimate the average savings per new vehicle at about $930. Automakers also get lower compliance costs.
The timing is no accident. Diesel prices are at record highs. Gasoline is still expensive in September. The White House knows high fuel costs are a political risk before November’s elections. The message is simple: fewer rules, cheaper cars, and more jobs in US factories. Industry and oil groups, who have long called the old targets unrealistic and too pro-electric, now see less pressure on their businesses. The administration calls the proposal a win for American autoworkers. Politico and Reuters both note that carmakers and oil industry leaders have welcomed the rollback, pointing to years of complaints about the cost and difficulty of the old standards.
Car companies are already changing course. Some big groups are cutting back on electric vehicle plans. They are putting more money into gasoline models that sell faster and bring steady profits. The US risks falling behind. China is pulling ahead in batteries and electric cars. Europe is sticking to its zero-emission path. If America keeps betting on gasoline, it may end up buying technology from abroad. That could mean lost jobs and lost ground for US industry.
Reuters reports that the new, relaxed standards are projected to increase US fuel consumption by about 100 billion gallons by 2050, resulting in roughly $185 billion in additional fuel costs and a 5% rise in CO₂ emissions compared to previous targets.
For Spanish drivers, the direct impact is almost zero. American car prices in Spain will not fall because of this US policy. But the bigger story is hard to miss. When the world’s second-biggest car market loosens its rules, the push for electrification looks less certain in Brussels, among carmakers, and for buyers. Europe is still on track to ban new combustion cars by 2035. Its emission rules get reviewed every few years. The US has just given itself more time and tied the change to the November vote. The final rule is not set yet. The industry will have its say before anything is final.
This is not the first time US fuel rules have changed sharply. As reported earlier, past administrations have also rolled back efficiency targets. That has shaken up the global car market and raised questions for European suppliers and climate policy.
The US is betting on cheaper cars and stable factories for now. But there is a risk. Rivals are not slowing down. American combustion engines get a break today. The long-term cost could be lost tech leadership and more reliance on foreign innovation.
