AEA Welcomes Rule to Reform CAFE Standards 

WASHINGTON DC (9/29/26) – Yesterday, the Trump administration finalized a rule resetting Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. The initiative put forth by the Department of Transportation, dubbed Freedom Means Affordable Cars, provides greater flexibility to automakers and reduces costs for Americans.

Tom Pyle, President of the American Energy Alliance, issued the following statement:

“CAFE is a relic of a bygone era when scarcity was dictating energy policy. Washington has no place being in the business of deciding what kind of car Americans can buy. This rule offers a significant improvement, allowing manufacturers to work on actual fuel efficiency innovation rather than relying on EV mandates or complicated fleetwide accounting.

“Ending the credit-trading scheme, which effectively shifted costs onto buyers of standard vehicles while benefiting EV manufacturing, is especially important. Additionally, these changes give automakers greater certainty and make it harder for future administrations to abruptly reverse course.

“Most importantly, this is about affordability and choice. With projected savings of roughly $1,300 per vehicle, families should have a little more wiggle room in their budgets and more freedom to buy the cars and trucks that actually fit their lives, their work, and their needs, not the vehicles that politicians and bureaucrats think they should drive.

“President Trump should be commended for upending the abuses of the CAFE program by the Obama and Biden administrations. But as long as the government has the authority to mandate fuel efficiency, the ability of future administrations to further disrupt auto markets will persist. It’s time for Congress to repeal CAFE altogether.”

AEA Experts Available for Interview on This Topic:

• Tom J. Pyle, President
• Kenny Stein, Vice President of Policy

Additional Background Resources From AEA:

• Another Win for Consumers: President Trump Announces Reset of CAFE Standards
• New Report Highlights Dangers Of Government Auto Mandates
• Promises Made, Promises Kept: President Trump Signs Resolutions to Save Our Cars

For media inquiries please contact:
THOMAS.PYLE@ENERGYDC.ORG