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Pete Buttigieg warns Trump fuel rules could cost drivers more : NPR
NPR • • business
Key Points:
- Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg criticized the Trump administration's rollback of fuel-economy standards, arguing it could lead to higher long-term costs for drivers and weaken U.S. automakers' global competitiveness.
- Buttigieg challenged the claim that the rollback would make vehicles more affordable, noting that the administration's estimated fuel cost increases may underestimate the impact of rising gas prices and tariffs.
- The Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards require automakers to meet fuel-efficiency targets across their fleets, and while American automakers welcomed the rollback, Buttigieg emphasized their historical ability to adapt to stricter regulations.
- Buttigieg warned that weakening fuel-economy standards could hinder U.S. innovation in the auto industry, potentially ceding market advantage to China, which is rapidly expanding its electric vehicle sector.
