New EPA Report Shows Auto Industry Needs to Do Better on Fuel Efficiency for Climate & Consumers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Late yesterday, the EPA released its annual automotive trends report, which found that only three out of 14 major automakers - Honda, Subaru and Mazda - met the clean car standards from 2013 to 2018 without relying on compliance loopholes.

The three lowest ranking automakers in the report were Fiat Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors. Chrysler and General Motors have sided with the Trump administration's effort to block California from setting its own tailpipe pollution rules.

The report was released on the same day as the EPA’s Science Advisory Board issued its final report criticizing the agency’s rollback of the clean car standards for using “faulty science” and that the current standards “might provide a better outcome for society than the proposed revision.”

The proposed final rule to roll back Obama-era clean car standards has been under review by the White House’s Office of Management and Budget since January.

In response, Andrew Linhardt, the Deputy Advocacy Director for the Sierra Club’s Clean Transportation for All campaign, issued the following statement:

“This report shows that despite persistent claims of innovation, the auto industry has a lot of work to do to reduce carbon pollution from gas-guzzling vehicles and increase fuel efficiency for American consumers. Automakers like General Motors and Fiat Chrysler are lagging at the bottom of the pack while siding with the Trump administration to roll back important state clean car standards that protect our communities and save communities money at the pump.”