Challenge to Biden Fuel Economy Rules: A Battleground for Automakers and the Environment

A group of 26 state attorneys general, led by West Virginia and Kentucky, have filed a legal challenge to the Biden administration’s new fuel economy rules. The attorneys general criticized the requirements as unworkable and argued that they would force automakers to build more electric vehicles. On June 7th, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) finalized tighter vehicle fuel economy rules through 2031, which were less stringent than initially proposed.

The NHTSA announced that it would increase corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) requirements to around 50.4 miles per gallon (mpg) by 2031, up from the current 39.1 mpg. This new requirement is only slightly higher than the 49 mpg that was previously required for 2026. However, the state attorneys general believe that these new rules will be burdensome for automakers and may not be achievable in a practical manner.

This legal challenge highlights the ongoing debate over environmental regulations and the promotion of electric vehicles in the United States. The outcome of this challenge could impact the future of fuel economy standards and the auto industry as a whole. As the legal battle continues, it remains to be seen how the administration will respond to the concerns raised by the states.