EPA Finalizes Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards

EPA recently finalized rules under the Clean Air Act (CAA) establishing federal greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for passenger cars and light trucks for Model Years (MY) 2023 through 2026.  The standards are designed to achieve significant GHG emissions reductions along with reductions in other air pollutants.  This rule will result in substantial GHG emissions reductions from transportation over the long term.  The effective date of the rule is February 28, 2022.

The final rule is structured to prompt automakers to use clean technologies that are available today and to help stimulate production of more electric vehicles.  This rule is viewed by EPA as a crucial step in setting the U.S. on a path to a zero-emissions transportation future.  The final rule revises current GHG standards beginning in MY 2023 and increases in stringency year over year through MY 2026.  The standards finalized for MYs 2025 and 2026 are the most stringent option considered in the