DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

NHTSA and EPA Proposed SAFE Vehicle Rule 

Overview 

Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

(NHTSA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a notice of proposed 

rulemaking, the Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule for Model Years 2021-

2026 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks (SAFE Vehicles Rule). 

The SAFE Vehicles Rule is the next generation of the Congressionally-mandated Corporate

Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) and Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards. 

This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) is the first formal step in setting the 2021-2026 

Model Year (MY) standards that must be achieved by each automaker for its car and light-duty

truck fleet.

In today’s proposal, NHTSA and EPA are seeking public comment on a wide range of regulatory

options to establish new or revised fuel economy and tailpipe carbon dioxide emissions standards

for passenger cars and light trucks covering MY 2021 through 2026.

The proposal highlights the agencies’ preferred alternative, which is based on extensive research

and analysis. The preferred alternative would retain the MY 2020 standards (specifically, the 

“footprint”1 or “size-based” target curves for passenger cars and light trucks) for both programs

through MY 2026. 

The automotive industry has achieved tremendous gains in fuel economy over the past decade

and increases will continue through MY 2020. The agencies’ preferred alternative reflects a 

balance of safety, economics, technology, fuel conservation, and pollution reduction. The

preferred alternative is anticipated to prevent thousands of on-road fatalities and injuries as

compared to the standards set forth in the 2012 final rule. The preferred alternative is also

expected to improve vehicle affordability leading to increased use of newer, safer, cleaner and

more efficient vehicles.

Benefits of the Preferred Alternative 

• Estimated reduction of up to 1,000 lives lost annually in fatal vehicle crashes

• $2,340 reduction in the average ownership cost of new vehicles

• $500 billion in cost savings for the U.S. economy

1 “Footprint” refers to the square footage of a vehicle measured by the contact points between the four tires and the 

ground.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Background and History 

NHTSA sets and enforces the CAFE standards, while EPA calculates average fuel economy

levels for manufacturers, and sets related reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards. 

NHTSA establishes CAFE standards through its authorities provided under the Energy Policy 

and Conservation Act of 1975, as amended by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 

2007, while EPA establishes GHG emissions standards under the Clean Air Act, as amended. 

On April 2, 2018, the EPA issued the Mid-Term Evaluation Final Determination which found 

that the MY 2022-2025 GHG standards are not appropriate and should be revised. For more than 

a year, the agencies worked together to extensively analyze current automotive and fuel

technologies, reviewed economic conditions and projections, and consulted with other federal

agency partners to ensure the most reliable and accurate analysis possible.

The joint proposal outlines a preferred alternative based on all of the above mentioned factors. 

However, the proposal also requests comment on a broad range of options. In addition to the

preferred scenario, several of the options proposed for public comment include fuel economy

increases that range from 0.5% per year for both passenger vehicles and light trucks up to 2% per

year for passenger vehicles and 3% per year for light trucks. 

Comments and Public Meetings 

Interested parties should consult the Federal Register notice for this proposal for more

information about how to submit comments and for information about public hearings that may

be held. 

A copy of the Federal Register notice can be found on the NHTSA or EPA websites listed below.

Additional Information 

For more information, please visit http://www.nhtsa.gov/ or http://www.epa.gov/.

EPA-420-F-18-904 

August 2, 2018