The Biden administration is facing opposition to its proposed fuel economy standards, with critics arguing that they would increase consumer costs and burden U.S. businesses.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received over 62,900 public comments during the comment period, including opposition from 26 states and various industries.
The American Petroleum Institute (API) and other industry groups argue that the proposed standards restrict consumer choice, raise costs, and create a vulnerable transport sector dependent on electric vehicles. (Trending: Joe Biden Does the Unthinkable For Hamas)
Automakers, such as Ford and Stellantis, express concerns about substantial civil penalties and the impracticality of meeting the proposed standards.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation (AAI) predicts that non-compliance penalties under the proposal will cost companies over $14 billion and lead to increased car prices.
“NHTSA’s proposal is yet another attempt by the Biden administration to restrict Americans’ freedom to decide what vehicle fits their needs and budget,” Will Hupman, the American Petroleum Institute’s (API) vice president of downstream policy, said in a statement.
“Combined with EPA’s proposed tailpipe emissions standards, these rules amount to a de facto ban on cars and trucks using liquid fuels, which can and should be a part of the solution to reduce carbon emissions,” he continued.
“NHTSA has departed from Congressional intent and proposed standards that do not meet statutory requirements,” American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, another industry group, wrote in a comment letter.
“In particular, we believe that NHTSA exceeds its legal authority by setting the fuel economy standards at a level that is not feasibly achievable by internal combustion engine vehicles, effectively establishing a de facto electric vehicle mandate.”
The AAI also emphasizes the need for better alignment between NHTSA fuel economy standards and EPA tailpipe emissions rules. (Trending: Biden Official Caught Working For Terrorists)
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and a coalition of 26 states oppose the rules, citing concerns about national security, power grid stress, and supply chain limitations.
“Ford has never paid civil penalties under the CAFE program, and yet by NHTSA’s own analysis Ford would likely pay $1 billion in civil penalties if NHTSA’s Proposal were finalized,” Ford Motor Company wrote in its comment letter.
“This is alarming in and of itself, and threatens substantial economic hardship for Ford.”
“Under NHTSA’s Proposal, automakers face risks of substantial civil penalties not because they are less capable than others, but because they hold a major portion of the market share for light-duty trucks,” the major U.S. automaker continued.
“Money paid in civil penalties could instead be invested toward the transition to EVs, toward higher wages for workers, or toward any number of virtuous policy objectives.”
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