Fleet Mileage Target Falls to 34.9 MPG by 2031

Households shopping for new vehicles should expect the 2031 fleet-wide efficiency average to be well below the 2024 federal standard.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Electric Vehicles

Fleet Mileage Target Falls to 34.9 MPG by 2031

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Should the government require cars to meet stricter fuel economy standards?

Automakers including General Motors, Toyota, and Volkswagen backed the Trump administration in a legal challenge filed by California and other states against vehicle fuel economy standards. The Transportation Department has finalized a fleet-wide fuel economy average of 34.9 miles per gallon by 2031 for new vehicles.

Why it matters

The 2031 target is down from the 50.4 miles per gallon standard approved under President Joe Biden in 2024, which would change how efficient the cars and trucks sold in the United States need to be over the coming years. For households weighing a new vehicle purchase, a lower fleet-wide target can shape the range of gas-powered and hybrid models available and the fuel costs drivers should expect.

The Transportation Department's finalized target of 34.9 miles per gallon by 2031 is roughly 15.5 miles per gallon below the 50.4 mpg standard approved in 2024. The automaker group filed its support for the administration in the legal challenge on Monday, November 2, 2026.

The players

General Motors

A major American automaker whose gasoline and electric vehicle lineup is shaped by federal fuel economy rules.

Toyota

A Japanese automaker known for hybrid vehicles, whose fleet efficiency is directly affected by federal mileage targets.

Volkswagen

A German automaker with a large U.S. vehicle lineup, whose fleet-wide mileage is measured against the federal average.

U.S. Department of Transportation

The federal agency that sets and finalizes fuel economy standards that govern the efficiency of new vehicles sold in the United States.

California

The state that filed the legal challenge against the fuel economy standards, a state whose emissions rules have long shaped national vehicle policy.

The details

California and other states filed the legal challenge against the fuel economy standards, and a group representing General Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen, and other major automakers filed in support of the administration's position. The finalized rule sets a fleet-wide average rather than a standard for each individual vehicle, so manufacturers meet the target across their total mix of models sold. Households should understand that the fleet average is a manufacturer-level target and does not guarantee the mileage of any single vehicle.

2024: The Biden administration approved the 50.4 mpg fuel economy standard.
October 2026: The Transportation Department finalized the 34.9 mpg standard for 2031.
November 2, 2026: Automakers backed the administration in the legal challenge.
2031: Target year for the 34.9 mpg fleet-wide average.

The Home Front

The finalized target of 34.9 mpg for 2031 represents a sharp retreat from the 50.4 mpg standard approved under Biden in 2024. For households tracking the cost of owning a vehicle, the federal mileage target is one factor that influences how fuel costs are likely to trend across the new-car market.

If you are planning to buy a new vehicle, compare the fuel economy ratings on the window sticker and check the EPA's official fuel economy database at fueleconomy.gov before deciding. Keep your vehicle's purchase and maintenance records in one place so you can track real-world mileage and fuel costs over time.

The takeaway

A lower federal mileage target can reduce the pressure on automakers to push fuel efficiency, which may affect the price and fuel cost gap between gasoline and electric vehicles over time. When shopping, compare the total cost of ownership, including fuel, rather than relying on any single federal number.