For a family trying to replace a worn-out car, $1,300 is real money. That money could cover insurance, pay repair bills, or make a down payment. That’s exactly how much the Trump administration estimates its rollback of federal fuel economy requirements will cut the average cost of a new vehicle.
A car is still how most Americans get to work every day. Census data show that 78.4% of workers — about 130 million people — commute by car, truck, or van. Yet the average price actually paid for a new vehicle has climbed nearly 30%, from $38,948 in December 2019 to $50,562 in September 2026. The new rule eases the pressure on automakers to raise average fuel economy across the vehicles they sell, giving them more flexibility to build the kinds of cars that Americans want and can afford.
