ICYMI: POLITICO: Trump’s ‘Affordability’ Car Rule Makes Drivers Pay More At The Pump

As prices at the pump break records, the Trump admin’s own analysis shows that Americans could pay as much as $6,000 more to fill up their tanks 

Washington, DC – According to the Trump-Vance administration’s own analysis of their so-called “affordability” car rule, Americans will spend $3,600 more annually on filling up a passenger car in 2031 thanks to the decision to roll back fuel efficiency standards. For bigger cars, that number climbs even higher, rising to $6,062 more for fueling new light trucks. The analysis shows that while Americans pay the price at the pump, the rule will be yet another boon for oil companies who have already raked in massive profits from Trump’s war of choice in Iran. 

The rule was announced Monday against a backdrop of an increasingly bleak midterm outlook for Republicans, as the total cost in extra spending on fuel thanks to Trump’s war is projected to hit $122 billion today. Americans faced the highest Labor Day gas prices on record earlier this month; Despite their desperate attempts to distance themselves from the Trump-Vance administration, Republicans have voted to support his disastrous war again and again. 

POLITICO: Trump’s ‘affordability’ car rule makes drivers pay more at the pump

The Trump administration launched its fuel economy rule for cars Monday with promises of cutting costs for beleaguered voters, but the rule itself tells a different story: higher costs for consumers, balanced out by increased profits and lower costs for the U.S. oil and automotive industries.

The rule that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy unveiled Monday predicts that drivers will spend more to fill up the tanks of their model year 2031 cars — outweighing their own estimations of savings on car prices. And the department’s own regulatory analysis even suggests that those auto-industry savings on building new cars might not trickle down to the consumer.

DOT estimated the new rule, which replaces Biden-era Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards for cars, would reduce car prices by $1,289 when it takes full effect in 2031. But fuel efficiency losses would mean motorists would spend $1,624 more to fill up an average model-year 2031 car. After factoring in other anticipated savings, DOT’s analysis found the rule will cost the average vehicle buyer in 2031 an additional $289.

The costs would be higher for bigger vehicles. In 2031, a passenger car will cost $3,600 more to fuel annually compared to a $1,335 savings on the sticker price, the analysis shows. And drivers will spend $6,062 more fueling new light trucks, compared to $1,482 in upfront cost reductions.

The move comes as Republicans in Congress are girding for midterm losses thanks in part to voter fury over higher fuel prices. The administration framed the rule as a shot in the arm for overburdened consumers, who are facing high interest rates, persistent inflation and soaring gasoline prices as they head to the polls this fall.