Surprise, Surprise: Short-Sighted Automakers Back Trump’s Fuel Economy Standards Rollback – Jalopnik

Good morning! It’s Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and that is The Morning Shift, your day by day roundup of the highest automotive headlines from all over the world, in a single place. This is the place you may discover a very powerful tales which might be shaping the best way Americans drive and get round.

In this morning’s version, automotive corporations are all in favor of the Trump administration’s rollback of gas financial system guidelines whereas they concurrently urge Congress to move the everlasting ban on Chinese automobile imports they have been whining about. Also, Europe has all however forgiven Tesla CEO Elon Musk and a chip scarcity at Stellantis might hamper Fiat output in Italy.

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The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a bunch representing a number of the largest automakers on this planet, together with General Motors, Toyota, Hyundai, Ford, Stellantis and Volkswagen, mentioned it was backing the Trump administration in a authorized problem to its sharply decrease automobile gas financial system requirements that had been filed by California, New York and two dozen different states, cities and counties across the nation. I’ll inform ya what, I’m not stunned, however I’m certain these automakers will likely be as soon as these gas financial system rollbacks are modified within the subsequent administration (at any time when that comes).

Last month, the U.S. Department of Transportation mentioned it was finalizing a fleet-wide gas financial system common of 34.9 mpg by 2031. That’s down from the 50.4 mpg mark that was set by the Biden administration in 2024. The group argued that automakers require “certainty and stability” in requirements. From Reuters:

It added that if the requirements have been put aside, it “would affect automakers’ ​business, endangering the capital investment planning, product development, and performance validation for hundreds of ​new vehicle models intended for the US market.”

The states mentioned the Trump administration was ignoring the presence ‌of tens of millions ⁠of electrical autos, “leading to a flawed, dramatically distorted analysis of the ‘maximum feasible’ fuel economy level.” The automaker group mentioned the court docket ought to reject these arguments.

The revised Trump administration requirements search to reverse Biden’s push towards larger gas effectivity and electrical autos. A coalition of environmental ​and client teams ​additionally filed a separate ⁠lawsuit difficult the brand new guidelines.

The Transportation Department mentioned the regulation reduces producers’ common price per automobile to conform by $1,289 however will increase gas ​prices by greater than $1,600 over the lifetime of the autos.

The division ​mentioned the ⁠rule would enhance US gasoline consumption by means of 2050 by 4.6%, or about 121 billion gallons, in contrast with the Biden guidelines but additionally increase new automotive gross sales.

The American Petroleum Institute, an oil ⁠and pure ​fuel business commerce group, additionally filed in assist of ​the Trump administration’s guidelines, saying they guarantee the federal government units requirements that “do not force consumers to purchase vehicles that ​consume less fuel than they would otherwise choose.”

Automakers can discuss all they need about being environmentally sustainable and eco-friendly, however on the finish of the day, it is very clear that what all of it comes all the way down to is the underside line. It’ll actually be fascinating to see what the fallout will likely be as soon as a brand new, extra eco-conscious administration enters the White House in just a few years’ time.

That identical group, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, is at the moment on a heater. Not solely are they going after gas financial system requirements. They’re additionally persevering with their push to get Congress to ban the import of Chinese EVs to the U.S. Automakers have been whining about this for years at this level, and now they’d just like the invoice to move when lawmakers return subsequent week for a fast session following in the present day’s midterm elections.

Back in September, the Senate sponsors of a bipartisan invoice to successfully ban Chinese-made autos from getting into the U.S. agreed to delay the hassle to fast-track the invoice till November, regardless of the actual fact it had overwhelming assist from different congresspeople who apparently aren’t a fan of a free market or freedom of selection for the patron. There are some officers who consider that if Dems win management of Congress, there might not be sufficient time to approve the ban earlier than the session ends in December. Whatever will these OEMs do??? From Reuters:

“We need to ​protect the US market from a flood of Chinese imports that carry ​surveillance risk and disadvantage current manufacturers that have made generational investments in ⁠American communities,” mentioned John Bozzella, who heads the Alliance for Automotive Innovation.

[…]

“Given the ​obvious national security risk and China’s pattern of unfair behavior, Congress should protect ​our defense and advanced manufacturing base and stop Chinese automakers from doing here what they’ve gotten away ‌with ⁠in Europe,” Bozzella mentioned.

Bozzella mentioned within the first eight months of 2026, the EU imported greater than 1.1 million autos from China — greater than all of 2025.

A Senate committee handed the invoice, which has vital momentum, in July and a House model now tops 100 co-sponsors. ​Automakers and legislative aides ​hope to win full ⁠passage this 12 months.

[…]

A regulation imposed by the previous ​Biden administration ⁠in early 2025 successfully banned Chinese automakers from promoting or constructing passenger autos within the US as a result of they may ship delicate driver information to China. Washington additionally maintains extra ⁠than 100% ​tariffs on Chinese electrical autos.

The Chinese international ministry ​has beforehand urged the United States “to respect the laws of the market economy and principles of fair competition,” ​criticizing earlier proposals in opposition to Chinese corporations as “unreasonable suppression.”

President Trump, wildcard that he’s, sparked a hell of lots of fear amongst key stakeholders when he mentioned he would settle for Chinese automakers constructing automobiles within the U.S., however thus far nobody has taken him up on the supply.

Of course, the entire “nationwide safety angle of this story is simply steeped in irony. After all, I’m writing this text on my Chinese-made laptop computer, and also you’re studying it in your Chinese-made telephone.

It would appear that Europe has all however forgiven Tesla CEO Elon Musk for the entire nasty crap he is pulled over the previous few years, as registrations for his autos rose sharply throughout a number of European nations in October. It’s an extension of the Austin, Texas-based automaker’s restoration within the area, however the beneficial properties have been admittedly a bit uneven as Chinese rivals continued to develop their market share. From Reuters:

Tesla registrations soared 248% in Sweden, 131% ​in Norway and 34% in Denmark, information from Mobility Sweden, Norway’s OFV and Denmark’s bilstatistik.dk confirmed.

The ⁠automaker additionally recorded robust progress elsewhere in Europe, with registrations rising 271% in Spain, 186% in Portugal and 94% in Italy, in response to information from ANFAC, ​ACAP and Italy’s Transport Ministry.

The rebound has been aided by simpler year-ago comparisons, increased gas costs, authorities incentives ​and continued progress in EV demand. But the tempo of restoration diverse considerably between markets, underlining the more and more fragmented nature of Europe’s EV sector as Chinese manufacturers broaden their presence.

Tesla stays one in every of Europe’s strongest EV manufacturers, although its reliance on the ​Model 3 and Model Y has left it going through rising competitors from rivals with broader lineups.

The automaker ​mentioned in October it had ended the third quarter with its largest passenger automobile order backlog in 4 years.

Norway remained a vivid ‌spot ⁠for Tesla. The carmaker recorded its greatest October on file and was the nation’s top-selling automotive model with a 9.8% market share, in response to OFV. Chinese manufacturers continued to develop their footprint, accounting for 22.5% of latest passenger automotive registrations, their highest month-to-month share on file.

[…]

“Northern Europe is quite open to the new players as long as they ⁠are efficient ​EVs. That’s what allowed Tesla to get to a leading position ​and it’s what is allowing the Chinese to gain ground fast,” business analyst Felipe Munoz, who runs the Car Industry Analysis platform, ​informed Reuters.

I assume time actually does heal all wounds. Well, that, and staying out of the highlight as greatest as Elon actually can.

Stellantis is partying prefer it’s 2021 once more, as a result of it is going by means of its personal chip scarcity in Italy. It says a shortfall for an digital element utilized in an engine management unit is inflicting “significant” disruption to manufacturing of some Fiat fashions in Italy, and the problem might persist by means of the top of the 12 months.

The scarcity from a provider has already weighed on October gross sales, particularly for the Italy-made Fiat Pandina, one of many model’s best-selling fashions. There’s a risk that the scarcity might result in additional points, together with manufacturing halts within the coming months at its vegetation in Pomigliano and Mirafiori — the place it builds the Fiat 500. From Reuters:

“Stellantis and Fiat ​are working with the highest priority to identify alternative solutions and gradually restore normal operations,” the group ​mentioned.

[…]

The disruption might additionally impression Stellantis vegetation in Italy making ​engine elements, together with ​Termoli, ⁠the place the N3 GSE engine utilized in each the Pandina and ​the five hundred is assembled.

Mirafiori is at the moment ​present process ⁠a three-week manufacturing halt that began in mid-October as a consequence of a separate element scarcity, with unions ⁠pointing ​at weak demand for the ​Fiat 500 as one of many elements behind the ​stoppage.

Mama mia! That’s a spicy manufacturing nightmare — one an ailing firm like Stellantis can hardly afford proper now.

History.com

Folks, it is election day in America, so get on the market and make your voice heard. If you are the kind of one who says “voting doesn’t matter,” how about you do me a favor and kick rocks with open-toed sneakers? It’s your civic obligation, and in a two-party system, hurt mitigation and incremental beneficial properties are the secret. Go outdoors and get it carried out, and if you wish to be taught extra about “Dewey Defeats Truman,” head over to History.com.

Gas costs are persevering with their sluggish retreat again to relative normalcy, however actually not on the tempo the Trump administration would have hoped. Perhaps that is one thing to bear in mind when you’re voting in the present day. Usually the President has little or no to do with gas prices, however on this case, he is instantly concerned with the truth that WTI Crude Oil futures and Brent Crude costs stay elevated, sitting at $96 and $103, respectively, on the time of publication. You can thank his battle with Iran for that.

Anyway, here is the place nationwide common costs stand proper now, in response to AAA:

AAA

This all shakes out to the common worth of a gallon of fuel dropping one other 2 cents in a single day to $4.15, in response to AAA. Diesel, then again, noticed costs stay nearly the identical at $6.29. Trump has mentioned for some time now that costs will come down post-election, so I suppose we’ll see what that is all about within the coming weeks and months. I would not maintain my breath, although.

Sometimes you go to a live performance not realizing a single track and go away with them being one in every of your favourite new musicians. That’s what occurred to me final evening with Willi Carlisle. A buddy of mine had an additional ticket to his present in Brooklyn, so I made a decision to go, though I did not actually know his stuff, and let me let you know: I used to be blown away. Take a while in the present day to take heed to Carlisle’s discography. It’s haunting, humorous, lovely, tortured and deep — what all bluegrass and nation music ought to be.