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.
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.
Aug. 16, 2022: NHTSA Announces Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
For Model Years 2027 and Beyond Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards and Model Years 2029 and Beyond Heavy-Duty Pickup Trucks and Vans Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Improvement Program Standards
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, NHTSA intends to prepare an environmental impact statement to analyze the potential environmental impacts of new Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards for model years 2027 and beyond passenger cars and light trucks, and new fuel efficiency standards for model years 2029 and beyond heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans. NHTSA is seeking comment on the scope of considerations to be addressed in the EIS, and for identifying significant environmental effects 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.
March 31, 2022: NHTSA Finalizes CAFE Standards for MYs 2024-2026
After reviewing the tens of thousands of public comments submitted on NHTSA’s August 2021 Proposal for MYs 2024-2026 CAFE Standards and accompanying Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, NHTSA finalizes CAFE Standards for MYs 2024-2026. The final rule establishes standards that would require an industry-wide fleet average of approximately 49 mpg for passenger cars and light trucks in model year 2026, by increasing fuel efficiency by 8% annually for model years 2024 and 2025, and 10% annually for model year 2026. The agency projects the final standards will save consumers nearly $1,400 in total fuel expenses over the lifetimes of vehicles produced in these model years and avoid the consumption of about 234 billion gallons of gas between model years 2030 to 2050. The agency also projects the standards will cut greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, reduce air pollution, and reduce the country’s dependence on oil.
December 21, 2021: NHTSA Repeals SAFE I Rule
After reviewing all the public comments submitted on NHTSA’s April 2021 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, NHTSA finalizes the CAFE Preemption rulemaking to withdraw its portions of the so-called SAFE I Rule. The final rule concludes that the SAFE I Rule overstepped the agency’s legal authority and established overly broad prohibitions that did not account for a variety of important state and local interests. The final rule ensures that the SAFE I Rule will no longer form an improper barrier to states exploring creative solutions to address their local communities’ environmental and public health challenges.
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
Final Rule: CAFE Standards for MYs 2024-2026
- Press Release
- Final Rule
- Final Technical Support Document (TSD)
- Final Regulatory Impact Analysis (FRIA)
- Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS)
- CAFE Compliance and Effects Modeling System
- Other Technical Work Supporting the MYs 2024-2026 Final Rule
- 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 FRIA 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 final rule.
August 10, 2021: NHTSA Proposes New CAFE Standards for 2024-2026
NHTSA is proposing to amend the CAFE standards set in 2020 for passenger cars and light trucks manufactured in model years 2024-2026, so that standards would increase in stringency at a rate of 8% per year rather than the 1.5% year set previously. NHTSA will seek comment for 60 days on its tentative conclusion that these standards are maximum feasible for the model years covered. This proposal also responds to President Biden’s directive in Executive Order 13990 to reconsider the CAFE standards finalized in 2020.
- Press Release
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)
- Draft Technical Support Document (TSD)
- Preliminary Regulatory Impact Analysis (PRIA)
- Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS)
- CAFE Compliance and Effects Modeling System
- Public Hearing: Watch | Download | Federal Register Notice
- Other Technical Work Supporting the MYs 2024-2026 Proposal
September 24, 2021: Draft SEIS Comment Period Extended
NHTSA has extended the comment period for the Draft Supplemental EIS in order to coincide with the closing of the comment period for the NPRM and provide commenters additional opportunity to comment; the Federal Register document announcing this extension is linked above.
Documents Associated with Earlier Rulemakings
- MYs 2021-2026 rulemaking
- 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
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.