Corporate Average Fuel Economy
NHTSA's Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards regulate how far our vehicles must travel on a gallon of fuel. NHTSA sets CAFE standards for passenger cars and for light trucks (collectively, light-duty vehicles), and separately sets fuel consumption standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks and engines. NHTSA also regulates the fuel-economy window stickers on new vehicles. This site contains information about many aspects of these programs, and we encourage you to check back as new information is posted.
September 28, 2023: Public Hearing (Virtual)
NHTSA held a virtual public hearing on September 28, 2023, on its proposal for the Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards for Passenger Cars and Light Trucks for Model Years 2027–2032 and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Heavy-Duty Pickup Trucks and Vans for Model Years 2030–2035, which was signed on July 28, 2023. This hearing also allowed the public to provide oral comments regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Statement that accompanies the proposal.
For more information on the public hearing and a recording of the event visit NHTSA.gov/Events.
July 28, 2023: NHTSA Announces New Proposal for CAFE and HDPUV Standards
For Model Years 2027-2032 Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards and Model Years 2030-2035 Heavy-Duty Pickup Trucks and Vans Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Improvement Program Standards
NHTSA proposes new CAFE standards for passenger cars and light trucks built in model years 2027-2032, and new fuel efficiency standards for heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans built in model years 2030-2035. If finalized, the proposal would require an industry fleet-wide average of approximately 58 miles per gallon for passenger cars and light trucks in MY 2032, by increasing fuel economy by 2% year over year for passenger cars and by 4% year over year for light trucks. For heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans, the proposal would increase fuel efficiency by 10% year over year. The proposal would provide critical savings at the gas pump for American consumers, and sets goals that are consistent with Congress' direction to conserve energy and provide flexibility to industry on how best to meet those goals from proven, available fuel-saving technologies. NHTSA invites public comment on this proposal.
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, NHTSA announces the availability of the draft environmental impact statement (Draft EIS) that analyzes the potential environmental impacts of this proposal. NHTSA also invites public comment on the Draft EIS. All comments and materials received, including the names and addresses of the commenters who submit them, will become part of the administrative record and will at Regulations.gov.
Sept. 19, 2022: NHTSA Announces Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
For Model Years 2030 and Beyond Medium- and Heavy-Duty Fuel Efficiency Improvement Program Standards
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, NHTSA intends to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to analyze the potential environmental impacts of new fuel efficiency standards for model years 2030 and beyond medium- and heavy-duty on-highway vehicles and some work trucks that NHTSA will be proposing pursuant to the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. This notice initiates the process for determining the scope of considerations to be addressed in the EIS and for identifying any significant environmental issues related to the proposed action. NHTSA invites comments from Federal, State, and local agencies, Indian tribes, stakeholders, and the public in this scoping process to help identify and focus any matters of environmental significance and reasonable alternatives to be examined in the EIS.
Light-Duty Vehicles
Standards
- Passenger car standards: 49 CFR Part 531
- Minimum domestic passenger car standards: 49 CFR 531.5(d)
- Light truck standards: 49 CFR Part 533
NPRM: Proposed CAFE Standards for MYs 2027-2032 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks and Fuel Efficiency Standards for MYs 2030-2035 Heavy-Duty Pickup Trucks and Vans
- Press Release
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
- NPRM; correction notice published August 25, 2023
- Draft Technical Support Document
- Preliminary Regulatory Impact Analysis
- Analysis
- Appendix I – Passenger Car and Light Truck Standard Setting Runs
- Appendix II – Passenger Car and Light Truck EIS Runs
- Appendix III – HDPUV Runs
- Draft Environmental Impact Statement
- Summary
- Complete Draft EIS
- Appendices
- Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS (published August 16, 2022)
- CAFE Model
- Other Technical Work Supporting the Proposal
- Data Visualization Tool
- The Data Visualization Tool has been updated to include visualizations of fuel consumed over time (by fuel type, alternative, and vehicle regulatory class) and greenhouse gas emissions over time (by upstream and tailpipe sources, fuel type, alternative, and regulatory class). Note: This data visualization tool presents existing information in the PRIA and CAFE Model output files in an easy-to-use dashboard, and does not create or provide any new data beyond what is already included in the proposal and related materials.
Documents Associated with Earlier Rulemakings
- MYs 2024-2026
- MYs 2021-2026 rulemaking
- CAFE Preemption
- 2021 CAFE Preemption Rule (repealing SAFE Vehicles Rule Part One)
- SAFE Vehicles Rule Part One Final Rule
- 2016 Draft Technical Assessment Report and associated mid-term evaluation documents
- MYs 2017 and beyond rulemaking
- MYs 2012-2016 rulemaking
- MY 2011 and earlier
Compliance and Enforcement
CAFE self-service reporting data portal
NHTSA’s Public Information Center (PIC) is a resource tool for the public and for automobile manufacturers to obtain information on the CAFE and Heavy-Duty Vehicle and Engine Fuel Consumption programs. PIC allows researchers, analysts, media, and the public to easily access dynamic data about how manufacturers are complying with NHTSA’s fuel efficiency programs and provides self-service portals for easy access to the data. For manufacturers, PIC provides the most up-to-date resource tools for compliance. Public information is routinely updated on PIC to provide timely, reliable compliance data, which can be viewed in reports, and interactive table and graph formats. The interactive data can be easily sorted and filtered based on specific areas of interest to produce custom reports, which can also be downloaded as Excel or PDF files. NHTSA will add reports and additional resources for manufacturers to PIC sites as regulations and needs arise.
CAFE and fuel efficiency update
December 13, 2022: A new compliance report for NHTSA’s heavy-duty (HD) fuel consumption program covering MY 2013-2020 vehicles is available in CAFE's public information center.
Rulemaking on civil penalty rate
March 25, 2022: NHTSA final rule withdrawing the January 2021 interim final rule and reverting to the December 2016 final rule, restoring the application of the increased CAFE civil penalty rate as mandated by Congress beginning with Model Year 2019, instead of Model Year 2022.
Previous rulemaking
August 17, 2021: NHTSA supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking requesting comment on whether NHTSA should proceed to a final rule that withdraws the January 2021 interim final rule and reverts to the December 2016 final rule, restoring the application of the increased CAFE civil penalty rate beginning with model year 2019, instead of model year 2022.
January 14, 2021: NHTSA interim final rule adjusts the CAFE civil penalty rate to $14 beginning in model year 2022; if the August 31, 2020, decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Case No. 19-2395 is vacated, however, the rate will remain at $5.50 instead.
July 12, 2019: NHTSA final rule retains the $5.50 penalty rate applicable to automobile manufacturers that fail to meet CAFE standards.
Heavy-Duty Vehicles
NHTSA Announces New Proposal for HDPUV Standards
July 28, 2023: NHTSA proposes new fuel efficiency standards for heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans built in model years 2030-2035.
Phase 2
The compliance dates for NHTSA’s fuel efficiency regulations, to the extent they apply to truck trailers, are currently stayed, pursuant to an order of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued on September 29, 2020 in case No. 16-1430.
Final Rule for Phase 2 fuel efficiency and GHG emissions standards for medium- & heavy-duty vehicles, MY2018-2027
- Final Rule
- Final Regulatory Impact Analysis
- Final Environmental Impact Statement
- Environmental Impact Statement Summary
- Environmental Impact Statement Appendices
- Response to Comments
- Compliance and Effects Modeling System
Documents relating to the Phase 2 proposal for medium- & heavy-duty vehicles, MY 2018-2027
- Trailer Fact Sheet
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
- Draft Regulatory Impact Analysis
- CAFE Model for HD Pickups and Vans
- Research supporting Phase 2 proposal
- Submit comments to docket NHTSA-2014-0132
Phase 1
Phase 1 of Fuel Efficiency and GHG Emission Program for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Trucks, MYs 2014-2018
Technical Amendments
- Partial Withdrawal of Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle, and Nonroad Technical Amendments
- Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle, and Nonroad Technical Amendments
Final Rule
NEPA Process
- Final Environmental Impact Statement
- Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
- Correction Notice for Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
- Draft Regulatory Impact Analysis
- NHTSA Study: Factors and Considerations for Establishing a Fuel Efficiency Regulatory Improvement Program for Commercial Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles
- Notice of Public Hearings for Proposal
- Letters from medium- & heavy-duty vehicle stakeholders
- NAS Study: Technologies and Approaches to Reducing the Fuel Consumption of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles
Fuel Economy and Environment Label
NHTSA and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a joint final rule establishing new requirements for a fuel economy and environment label that will be posted on the window sticker of all new automobiles sold in the U.S.