CAFE Standards Fines for Automakers Reduced to $0.00

[ripcord]

Apparently, the latest budget reduces the fine for automakers who fail to meet CAFE standards to $0.00 which effectively ends the mandate.

This promises to provide lots of new BITOG arguments, LOL. (Like we need a reason.) Will the automakers rewrite their owners manuals? Will they re-embrace 5w-30? Will the thicky's get to gloat? Will the 0w-20 lovers say, "I told you so!"

Frivolity aside, I haven't seen to many articles talking about this yet, but here's one that I saw today.

https://reason.com/2025/07/02/under...iling-to-hit-arbitrary-fuel-efficiency-goals/

 

[JavierH19]

They'll likely wait for the next revision or update where they were going to rewrite it so they don't have to spend a penny now since they need every last one they can get.

 

[Passport1]

Maybe then this returns, like the dinosaurs in Jurassic car?

 

[D60]

Fantastic if true. Does this mean we could also get true, simple mini-trucks again? Or is that "footprint" law something else?

 

[ripcord]

Maybe then this returns, like the dinosaurs in Jurassic cars?


View attachment 288299

I think the dinosaurs that knew how to use them mostly went extinct.

 

[ripcord]

Fantastic if true. Does this mean we could also get true, simple mini-trucks again? Or is that "footprint" law something else?

Possibly. Though, the old ones weren't very crash worthy and probably need a lot of changes to meet newer safety standards.

The most exciting thing to me is the possibility of some new, basic and inexpensive vehicles becoming available again.

 

[D60]

Possibly. Though, the old ones weren't very crash worthy and probably need a lot of changes to meet newer safety standards.

I really don't see that being an issue if you can make the smallest of cars meet them like the Yaris, Versa etc.

And if the Wrangler can still do it with removable doors and a fold-down windshield, I refuse to believe an enclosed cab truck with a permanently affixed roof can't somehow pull it off

 

[6.7 CTD]

The thickies: well they recommend 5w30 now so 5w40 it is.

The thinnies: they recommend 5w30 now but the previous model had the same engine and called for 0w20. I don’t want to lose my 47mpg so 0w20 it is.

All jokes aside, this should be interesting.

 

[bdcardinal]

I really don't see that being an issue if you can make the smallest of cars meet them like the Yaris, Versa etc.

And if the Wrangler can still do it with removable doors and a fold-down windshield, I refuse to believe an enclosed cab truck with a permanently affixed roof can't somehow pull it off

I was shocked when the new Bronco came out that Ford was allowed to have (easily) removable doors.

 

[D60]

The thickies: well they recommend 5w30 now so 5w40 it is.

The thinnies: they recommend 5w30 now but the previous model had the same engine and called for 0w20. I don’t want to lose my 47mpg so 0w20 it is.
All jokes aside, this should be interesting.

I actually think you're right!!

I put 10W40 in a '15 Subaru yesterday because it uses a lot of oil and she never checks it. There was something satisfying about pulling the filler cap labeled 0W20 and pouring in 10W40

 

[duck__dodgers]

They are going to be (lower case "C") conservative. No big changes except saving some $$$ cuz changing corporate budgets/planning are like driving oil tankers, and they want to see who wins in 2028.

 

[eljefino]

They are going to be (lower case "C") conservative. No big changes except saving some $$$ cuz changing corporate budgets/planning are like driving oil tankers, and they want to see who wins in 2028.

Yes and no, if there's something certified for sale overseas and it fits their American sales model it should be pretty easy to sell for the interim.

The "American sales model" is important as BMW sells station wagons in Europe but BMW, N.A. doesn't import them because they're "for poor people" or something.

This is bad news for people looking for a basic, fuel efficient car as those were effectively subsidized by the manufacturer to make CAFE numbers.

 

[fdcg27]

Yes and no, if there's something certified for sale overseas and it fits their American sales model it should be pretty easy to sell for the interim.

The "American sales model" is important as BMW sells station wagons in Europe but BMW, N.A. doesn't import them because they're "for poor people" or something.

This is bad news for people looking for a basic, fuel efficient car as those were effectively subsidized by the manufacturer to make CAFE numbers.

You make an excellent point.
Things have gotten bigger because the bigger they are the bigger the gross margin.
The small loss-leader stuff was only to make CAFE work.
In the absence of any CAFE penalty, the manufacturers have zero reason to offer anything small and cheap.
This also spells the end of companies like Tesla making bank selling CAFE credits.

 

[ripcord]

Well... there is the consumer. Whoever builds what they want will sell the most cars.

 

[Wingo]

Cafe standards or not, I do wish the big 3 would still make at least one econobox car model, cheap little cars with good mpg's. Think the Chevy Cavalier, Ford Focus, Dodge Neon.

 

[fdcg27]

Well... there is the consumer. Whoever builds what they want will sell the most cars.

Since buyers rarely seem to take an analytical approach to buying a new vehicle, but rather tend toward an emotional one they are easily pushed into buying something far larger, heavier and thirstier than what would actually suit their needs.
Continued lowish pump prices for fuel along with the return of cheap leases as well as seven year paper surely help with this.
Certainly Ford and GM have found where the money is and will continue down that path.

 

[D60]

Cafe standards or not, I do wish the big 3 would still make at least one econobox car model, cheap little cars with good mpg's. Think the Chevy Cavalier, Ford Focus, Dodge Neon.

They absolutely will. As discussed in the article in Post 1, CAFE did little because consumers choose products that save them $ down the line. More mpg = lower cost of ownership.

People buying gas savers now aren't doing so because goobermint tells them to.

 

[SevenBizzos]

Can we talk about the Ethanol mandate now?

 

[Cropduster172]

I really don't see that being an issue if you can make the smallest of cars meet them like the Yaris, Versa etc.

And if the Wrangler can still do it with removable doors and a fold-down windshield, I refuse to believe an enclosed cab truck with a permanently affixed roof can't somehow pull it off

I think I read somewhere that Toyota has one in the pipeline with the possibility of several engine types...hybrid, etc...

 

[PandaBear]

The only thing I know is politics is never permanent, it swing one way, it swing another, depending on lobbying and popular opinion of the voters.