Washington, D.C., March 15, 2017 – Today, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) commended President Donald Trump for announcing that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) would reconsider an EPA midnight regulation impacting automobile fuel economy requirements and emissions standards, or the program known as the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards. In doing so, the president committed to restoring the midterm review of emissions standards that uses the best available data. This has been a key manufacturing priority outlined in the NAM’s “Competing to Win” agenda, to ensure smart, balanced and effective regulations with input from a range of stakeholders.

“Manufacturers are encouraged to see the Trump administration commit to a review of these regulations using the best available data,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. “You cannot overstate how important it is to get CAFE standards correct. It is the right thing to do—not only for automobile manufacturers and their manufacturing supply chains but also for consumers and American families.”

The EPA and DOT Mid-Term Evaluation for model year 2022–2025 vehicles was always intended to be a technologically focused, data-driven and stakeholder-involved process. However, the previous administration issued a midnight regulation 14 months before the determination was supposed to be made, skipping all federal oversight by the Office of Management and Budget and excluding the DOT.

“Until recently, the fuel economy and greenhouse gas program for automobiles had been a shining example of how the federal government, states and industry can work together to drive environmental progress, technological innovation and economic growth,” Timmons said. “We hope today’s action restores that critical collaborative approach. Manufacturers look forward to working with the EPA and DOT to ensure that they have the best available information and data to make informed decisions and set good policy.”