EPA Report Shows US Fuel Economy Hits Record High and CO2 Emissions Reach a Record Low

EPA Report Shows US Fuel Economy Hits Record High and CO2 Emissions Reach a Record Low

EPA's 50th Annual Automotive Trends Report shows that all large automotive manufacturers are meeting current GHG standards

November 25, 2024

WASHINGTON - Today, Nov. 25, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its 50th annual Automotive Trends Report, demonstrating that model year 2023 vehicle fuel economy reached a record high while greenhouse gas emissions dropped to record low levels. The report also shows that all 14 large automotive manufacturers are in compliance with EPA's light-duty GHG program requirements through the MY 2023 reporting period. Today, the new MY 2023 electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles on the road have led to 11% lower CO2 emissions.

The 2024 EPA Automotive Trends Report celebrates its 50th anniversary and continues a long tradition of providing the public with a highly detailed look at progress in the auto industry.

"This report provides a critical data-driven affirmation that strong, technology-neutral standards can underpin environmental progress while saving drivers money at the pump," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "Manufacturers continue to innovate and are bringing technologies to market which will directly improve air quality, better protecting people's health and saving lives."

Over the course of 50 years, there have been many notable vehicle emission and public health accomplishments. Since EPA began keeping data in 1975, vehicles today are roughly 99% cleaner for common pollutants (such as hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particle emissions) which can help alleviate adverse health effects such as asthma and heart problems, and limit hospital days and cancer. In addition, fuel economy in the United States has improved from 13.1 miles per gallon in MY 1975 to 27.1 mpg for MY 2023 vehicles.

Despite these significant improvements in local air pollution that have benefited Americans, passenger cars and light trucks still accounted for nearly 17% of total U.S. GHG emissions in 2022, indicating the importance of further reductions in GHG emissions and improvements in fuel economy.

2024 EPA Automotive Trends Report highlights:

• For MY 2023, new vehicle fuel economy increased by 1.1 mpg reaching a record high 27.1 miles mpg.
• For MY 2023, new vehicle real-world CO2 emissions decreased to a record low of 319 grams per mile. By saving an additional 18 grams per mile of CO2 on each vehicle produced in the United States in MY 2023, the impact on climate change is reduced.
• Since MY 2004, CO2 emissions have decreased 31%, or 142 g/mi, and fuel economy has increased 40%, or 7.8 mpg.
• Since MY 2004, CO2 emissions have improved in 16 of 19 years.
• EVs and PHEVs are accelerating the downward trend in new vehicle real-world emissions. These vehicles have reduced CO2 emissions by 38 g/mi and improved fuel economy by 2.2 mpg in MY 2023.
• In MY 2023, the combined category of battery-electric vehicles, PHEVs, and fuel cell vehicles increased from 6.7% of production in MY 2022 to 11.5% of production in MY 2023 and are projected to reach 14.8% of production in model year 2024. This accelerating trend will likely continue as EV production is expected to grow across the industry in coming years.

This annual report reflects EPA's commitment to provide the public with information about new light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas emissions, fuel economy, technology data, and auto manufacturers' performance in meeting the nation's emissions standards. EPA's annual Automotive Trends Report is separate from the agency's regulatory process.

Read the full EPA Annual Automotive Trends Report and learn more about the trends.