EPA will review 2025 fuel laws

The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has confirmed it will reopen a review into whether the current 2022-2025 emission rules are feasible for car makers. The EPA has said it will reach a decision by April 2018 after the previous Obama administration locked in the current legislation in January. Executives for the auto industry have been aggressively lobbying for the Trump administration to reopen the review. "These standards are costly for automakers and the American people," said EPA administrator Scott Pruitt in a statement. “We will work with our partners at DOT [Department of Transportation] to take a fresh look to determine if this approach is realistic.” Current legislation rules that the fleet’s average fuel efficiency is to reach 4.7 litres per 100km in 2025, almost double the average 8.6 litres per 100km in 2010. One EPA analysis said the current 2025 rules would results in savings of between $2,070 and $2,300 over the lifetime of a standard vehicle. The review was ordered by President Donald Trump while visiting vehicle manufacturing plants in Detroit. "The assault on the American auto industry is over," he said in a speech, which was attended by over 1000 industry workers, including executives from GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler. Trump added he plans “a very big announcement next week” regarding the auto industry, but refused to elaborate.