New York Attorney General Letitia James has joined a multistate lawsuit challenging new federal fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks. The coalition argues that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration unlawfully weakened the standards and overstated the benefits of doing so, according to the attorney general's announcement.
The case was filed Friday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, according to the California attorney general's office, which leads the coalition. The New York release also names that court in its description of the filing, although an earlier paragraph incorrectly says the coalition is asking the D.C. Circuit to act. The case challenges a federal rule; it does not itself change the standards for New York drivers or automakers.
The rule sets a projected industry fleetwide average of about 34.9 miles per gallon for 2031 model-year passenger cars and light trucks. The prior rule projected 50.4 mpg for that year. Those are fleet averages, not a mileage requirement for every vehicle a consumer buys.
What the states challenge
Congress requires NHTSA to set fuel economy standards at the “maximum feasible” level, weighing technology, economic practicality, other vehicle standards and energy conservation. The state and local governments contend that the agency's new analysis did not meet that mandate and violated federal administrative law.
The coalition argues that NHTSA improperly excluded existing electric vehicles when modeling the fleet and used flawed assumptions about vehicle sales, safety, fuel savings and turnover. It says drivers could lose nearly $220 billion in fuel savings compared with the previous standards, and says the agency discounted future climate-related costs. Those are the coalition's claims, not court findings.
New York is among the governments bringing the case, along with 20 other states, the District of Columbia and several cities and counties. New York City is also a party. The coalition wants the court to set aside the new rule.
Federal agency's position
NHTSA says its final rule recalibrates the program to comply with federal law. The agency also plans to end intermanufacturer credit trading in model year 2028 and change how some vehicles are classified beginning in model year 2030.
The U.S. Transportation Department says the revised standards will make new vehicles more affordable, expand consumer choice and improve safety. It projects a $1,300 reduction in average new-vehicle costs; the states dispute the analysis behind that claimed benefit. The competing economic projections have not been resolved by a court.
For consumers, the legal dispute concerns the fuel efficiency of future vehicle fleets and the costs associated with them, not an immediate change to fuel-economy labels on vehicles already on the road. No ruling or schedule for the case was announced in the state releases.
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