The Trump administration Wednesday proposed slashing fuel economy standards that former President Joe Biden had finalized last year, in its latest push to make it easier for automakers to sell gasoline-powered cars.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed significantly reducing the fuel economy requirements from model years 2022 to 2031, requiring 34.5 miles per gallon on average by 2031, down from 50.4 miles per gallon.

NHTSA is revising down the 2022 fuel economy standards and then proposing to hike them between 0.25% and 0.5% annually through 2031. In 2022, under Biden, NHTSA increased fuel efficiency by 8% annually for model years 2024-2025 and 10% for 2026.

The agency estimates the proposed rule would reduce average up-front vehicle costs by approximately $900, but would significantly boost American fuel consumption. Reducing the rule for past years will make it much easier for automakers to comply for a period still being reviewed by NHTSA.

END TO CREDIT TRADING PROPOSED

It will also make drastic changes to the program, including proposing to eliminate credit trading among automakers in 2028, and will end some credits for fuel-saving features. NHTSA said the credit trading was a "windfall for EV-exclusive manufacturers that sell credits to other non-EV manufacturers."

President Donald Trump will be joined by the CEOs of Chrysler parent Stellantis and Ford Motor to tout the proposal.

Earlier this year, Trump signed legislation that ended fuel economy penalties for automakers, and NHTSA said they faced no fines dating back to the 2022 model year.

Ending credit trading could hurt automakers like EV manufacturers Tesla and Rivian, which have sold credits to rivals making gas-powered models.

Ford CEO Jim Farley praised Trump, in a statement ahead of the event, for "aligning fuel economy standards with market realities. We can make real progress on carbon emissions and energy efficiency while still giving customers choice and affordability."

GM CEO Mary Barra noted on Tuesday at an event that before Congress blocked California's zero-emission vehicle rules in June, the auto sector was facing requirements in some states that 35% of new vehicles sold in 2026 must be EVs.

"We were going to have to start shutting down plants because we weren't going to be able to build and sell those vehicles," Barra said.

RULE WOULD HAVE CUT EMISSIONS

The agency last year said the passenger car and truck rule would reduce gasoline consumption by 64 billion gallons and cut emissions by 659 million metric tons, reducing fuel costs with net benefits estimated at $35.2 billion for drivers.

The 2022 rule was estimated to reduce fuel use by more than 200 billion gallons through 2050.

Kathy Harris, director of clean vehicles at environmental nonprofit the Natural Resources Defense Council, said, "The Trump administration is sticking drivers with higher costs at the pump, all to benefit the oil industry. Drivers will be paying hundreds of dollars more at the pump every year if these rules are put in place."

Trump has taken a series of steps to make it easier to sell gas-powered vehicles and disincentivize EV production, including rescinding EV tax credits and barring California from banning the sale of traditional gas-powered vehicles after 2035.