Vehicle Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) Requirements by Year

1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031
Passenger Cars 18 19 20 22 24 26 27 27.5 26 26 26 26.5 27.5 27.5 27.5 27.5 27.5 27.5 27.5 27.5 27.5 27.5 27.5 27.5 27.5 27.5 27.5 27.5 27.5 27.5 27.5 27.5 27.5 30.4 33.3 34.2 34.9 36.2 37.8 39.1 40.5 42 43.7 43.7 43.7 43.7 49.2 53.4 59.4 60 61.2 62.5 63.7 65.1
Light-Duty Trucks 17.5 19 20 19.5 20 20.5 20.5 20.5 20 20.2 20.2 20.4 20.5 20.6 20.7 20.7 20.7 20.7 20.7 20.7 20.7 20.7 20.7 21 21.6 22.2 22.5 23.1 23.5 24.4 25.4 26 26.6 27.5 28.8 29.5 30.1 30.6 31.3 31.3 31.3 31.3 35.1 38.2 42.4 42.6 42.6 43.5 44.3 45.2
Source:

CAFE Standards 1978-2010: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Summary of Fuel Economy Performance
CAFE Standards 2011-2016: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency CAFE 2012-2016 Final Rule
CAFE Standards 2017-2025: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency CAFE 2017-2025 Final Rule

Notes: CAFE standards represent regulatory targets for original equipment manufacturers and do not represent expected window sticker fuel economies, which adjust regulatory test results down. NHTSA notes that real-world fuel economy is generally 20%-30% lower than the estimated required CAFE level stated above. CAFE standards for light-duty trucks were not introduced until 1982. Passenger cars and light-duty trucks are defined in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 49 part 523. Each of these definitions has two separate "footprint" classifications that are based on the vehicle's size and are used to determine CAFE requirements for a particular vehicle. For more information on NHTSA CAFÉ requirements, visit nhtsa.gov/laws-regulations/corporate-average-fuel-economy.
Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards were put in place after the 1974 and 1980 oil price shocks. Cheap oil throughout the 1980s and 1990s reduced the pressure for CAFE to be used as a tool to reduce petroleum use. The oil price shock of 2008 renewed interest in CAFE, leading to regular updates through 2031. NHTSA developed the CAFE model to set requirements based on technological feasibility, economic practicability, the effect of other government motor vehicle standards on fuel economy, and the need for energy conservation. It is important to note that the CAFÉ model must be used to determine the requirements for an Original Equipment Manufacturer’s (OEM) vehicle fleet. The CAFE requirements used for this chart are the estimated averages of CAFE levels (in miles per gallon) required under the Final Rule.

To view more details, notes, and acronyms, please download the Excel spreadsheet.