Transportation and Climate
Regulations & Standards: Light-Duty
The National Program for greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and fuel economy standards was developed jointly by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and applies to light duty cars and trucks in model years 2012-2016 (first phase) and 2017-2025 (second phase).
Together the final standards are projected to result in an average industry fleetwide level of 163 grams/mile of carbon dioxide (CO2) in model year 2025, which is equivalent to 54.5 miles per gallon (mpg) if achieved exclusively through fuel economy improvements. The program is projected to:
- Cut 6 billion metric tons of GHG over the lifetimes of the vehicles sold in model years 2012-2025.
- Save families more than $1.7 trillion in fuel costs
- Reduce America’s dependence on oil by more than 2 million barrels per day in 2025.
The agencies issued a Final Rulemaking establishing standards for 2012-2016 model year vehicles on April 1, 2010. The agencies also issued a Final Rulemaking with standards for model years 2017-2025 on August 28, 2012.
- EPA/NHTSA Final Rulemaking to Establish 2017 and Later Model Years Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards (published October 15, 2012)
On August 28, 2012, EPA and NHTSA issued a joint Final Rulemaking to extend the National Program of harmonized greenhouse gas and fuel economy standards to model year 2017 through 2025 passenger vehicles.
Over the lifetime of the MY 2017-2025 standards, this program is projected to save approximately 4 billion barrels of oil and 2 billion metric tons of GHG emissions, with net benefits up to $451 billion.
- Fact Sheet: EPA and NHTSA Set Standards to Reduce Greenhouse Gases and Improve Fuel Economy for Model Years 2017-2025 Cars and Light Trucks (PDF) (10 pp, 752K, EPA-420-F-12-051, August 2012)
- Final Rule (PDF) (578 pp, 8.24MB, published October 15, 2012)
- Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) (PDF) (555 pp, 8.83MB, EPA-420-R-12-016, August 2012)
- Joint Technical Support Document (TSD) (PDF) (602 pp, 9.5MB, EPA-420-R-12-901, August 2012)
- EPA Response to Comments (PDF) (1247 pp, 6.62MB, EPA-420-R-12-017, August 2012)
- See Proposed Emission Standards for the proposed rule, fact sheet and regulatory support documents, including the public hearing transcripts and the notices of intent.
- See the Vehicle Technologies and Measuring GHGs pages for additional documents supporting the agencies' technical assessment for this final rulemaking.
- On June 26, 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals-D.C. Circuit upheld EPA's Endangerment Finding and greenhouse gas regulations issued under the Clean Air Act for passenger vehicles and permitting for stationary sources.
- Final Rulemaking: Model Year 2012-2016 Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards and Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards (published May 7, 2010)
The final combined EPA and NHTSA standards that make up the first phase of this National Program apply to passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles, covering model years 2012 through 2016.
- Fact Sheet: EPA and NHTSA Finalize First-Ever National Program to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Improve Fuel Economy For Cars and Trucks (PDF) (9 pp, 189K, EPA-420-F-10-014, April 2010)
- Final Rule (PDF) (406 pp, 5.61MB, published May 7, 2010)
- Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) (PDF) (474 pp, 5.8MB, EPA-420-R-10-009, April 2010)
- Joint Technical Support Document (TSD) (PDF) (215 pp, 2.9M, EPA-420-R-10-901, April 2010)
- EPA Response to Comments (PDF) (841 pp, 3.3MB, EPA-420-R-10-012a, April 2010) NOTE: Chapter 3 of this document was updated on April 15, 2010.
- See the Vehicle Technologies and Measuring GHGs pages for additional documents supporting the agencies' technical assessment for this final rulemaking.
- See Proposed Emission Standards for the proposed rule, fact sheet and regulatory support documents, including the public hearing transcripts and the notice of intent issued May 2009.
- See the Presidential Announcement and commitment letters received in 2009 from California and automakers, expressing support for this effort.