Trump Administration Said to Eye Big Cuts to Fuel Economy Rules

  • Draft analysis shows regulators may propose easier standards
  • California hasn’t seen proposal but potential cuts ‘unwise’
Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon
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President Donald Trump’s administration is looking at ways to reduce future fuel economy standards for automobiles in a move to appease carmakers, who have asked to ease targets put in place under President Barack Obama.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is looking at a range of options to lower future targets, including one that would permit an average fleetwide fuel economy standard of 35.7 miles per gallon by 2026, down from the 46.6 miles per gallon under rules charted by the Obama administration, according to a draft NHTSA analysis obtained by Bloomberg News.