Trump Likely to Announce Review of Vehicle Emission Regulations This Week

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky

President Trump is prepared to make a formal announcement on the review of vehicle fuel efficiency standards that were locked in at the tail end of the Obama administration. Sources have confirmed that he’ll be meeting with automotive CEOs in Michigan this week to discuss the the situation after listening to them repeatedly beg him to repeal the current guidelines.

The president plans to visit an autonomous vehicle testing facility outside of Detroit on Wednesday before meeting with the automotive heads representing the Detroit Three. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said on Monday that the trip is centered around “job creation and automobile manufacturing … highlighting the need to eliminate burdensome regulations that needlessly hinder meaningful job growth.”

Sources who had been briefed on the matter told Reuters that the administration has already decided to review the viability of the 2022 through 2025 corporate vehicle emissions rules.

After the Obama administration maneuvered quickly to keep them before turning the keys over, Trump appears poised to overturn that decision. Trump is also submitting a budget proposal to congress this week that bolsters defense spending while cutting a long list of popular domestic programs — including a substantial reduction in the EPA’s annual funding.

The top executives from General Motors, Ford Motor Co, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles are expected to meet with the president in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan, along with several senior officials from Japanese and German automakers, including Toyota Motor Corp. and Mercedes-Benz.

Matt Posky
Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

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  • Big Al from Oz Big Al from Oz on Mar 14, 2017

    We need to know what changes are proposed by the Trump camp. If there is any winding back of FE I would hope there is a corresponding increase in fuel tax to offset the changes. I don't foresee any changes to emissions. The changes that the big three will push for will be to protect large vehicle production in the US.

  • Q Q on Mar 14, 2017

    Corporate emissions standards and/or efficiency standards are unnecessary. Emissions standards are already promulgated by the EPA and enforced by the states under the NAAQS. Areas that need more control to meet the standards (nonattainment areas) must put in an approved plan that is implemented to achieve compliance. Most all of those plans (state implementation plans) include vehicle emissions testing to drive compliance of the ozone standard.

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    • Q Q on Mar 14, 2017

      @golden2husky The clean air act will have to be changed for a state not to comply with its SIP. Plus it has anti backsliding provisions. What you propose will not happen.

  • Whitworth Whitworth on Mar 14, 2017

    Do even defenders of CAFE really think 54.5 mpg by 2025 is a realistic goal? Unless you just want everyone driving some version of a Prius in 8 years, it's not happening. Or if you just want to see consumers paying huge fines for the "privilege" of driving a normal sedan.

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    • Hgrunt Hgrunt on Mar 15, 2017

      CAFE MPG measurements are taken differently than the EPA rating we're used to seeing on window stickers, that's why they look so much higher. In the real world, they're much much lower.

  • 87 Morgan 87 Morgan on Mar 14, 2017

    From an emmission/pollution stanf point, raise the gas tax. The market will respond in kind.

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    • OldManPants OldManPants on Mar 14, 2017

      @87 Morgan Agree with all. Pay to play.

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