[JSH]

I was reading an article last week about Trump's proposal to roll back of CAFE requirements. His current proposal is a 1.5% annual increase in fuel economy from 2021 - 2026. (That is down from the current regulations that require 3.5% for trucks and 5% for cars through 2025).

It is interesting which automakers are supporting the roll-back vs pledging to stick to the old standard:

For a roll-back
GM, Fiat-Chrysler, Toyota,

Stick with the old standard
Ford, VW, Honda, BMW

I got to thinking a bit and it hit me that this lines up nicely with the full-size trucks each company sells. Under the current rules will require a full-size truck to get 30 mpg in 2025. (That is 30 mpg CAFE which equals 22 mpg combined on the EPA window sticker) While some automakers say they can't hit such an aggressive target some trucks meet 2025 targets in 2020

27 mpg - 2020 Chevy Siverado 3.0L Diesel
26 mpg - 2020 Ram 1500 3.0L Diesel
23 mpg - 2020 Ram 1500 V6 eTorque
22 mpg - 2020 Ford F150 2.7L V6 ecoboost
22 mpg - 2020 Ram 1500 3.6L V6
22 mpg - 2020 Ford F150 3.3L V6
21 mpg - 2020 Chevy Silverado 2.7L I4
20 mpg - 2020 Chevy Silverado 5.3L V8
19 mpg - 2020 Ford F150 3.5L V6 EcoBoost
19 mpg - 2020 Ram 1500 V8 eTorque
18 mpg - 2020 Ford F150 5.0L V8
17 mpg - 2020 Chevy Silverado 4.3L V6
17 mpg - 2020 Ram 1500 5.7L V8
16 mpg - 2019 Toyota Tundra 4.6L V8
15 mpg - 2019 Toyota Tundra 5.7L V8

Ford has already spent the money to switch their F-150 to an all aluminum body and invested in a line of turbocharged engines with better fuel economy. They have successfully convince their customer to buy these turbo engines so that only 25% of their sales are V8s.

Meanwhile GM's most fuel efficient options are a 4 cylinder that has failed to catch on, very expensive diesel, and a very OLD V6 that gets worse mileage than the V8. GM's bread and butter is still the 5.7L V8.

Ram has the eTorque 48V hybrid that hits the target today but they haven't convinced buyers to buy it. Their bread and butter is also a 5.7L V8.

Toyota is even farther behind with pitiful 16-15 mpg V8s.

VW and BMW are forced by the EU to hit even higher standards so they are stuck spending money to boost fuel economy regardless of what happens in the USA. Honda is 2 mpg ahead of their targets and rapidly building credits.