Laws & Regulations

Corporate Average Fuel Economy

Corporate Average Fuel Economy Light-Duty Vehicles Heavy-Duty Vehicles Fuel Economy and Environment Label
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 has announced a virtual public hearing to be held 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 allows the public to provide oral comments regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Statement that accompanies the proposal. 

For more information on the public hearing and to register, 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

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

Documents Associated with Earlier Rulemakings

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

Documents relating to the Phase 2 proposal for medium- & heavy-duty vehicles, MY 2018-2027

Phase 1

Phase 1 of Fuel Efficiency and GHG Emission Program for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Trucks, MYs 2014-2018  

Technical Amendments

Final Rule

NEPA Process

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

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.