Light Truck CAFE Standards – 2006 Reformation

In 2006 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) established new requirements for the light truck Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. In the new rule, there are Unreformed CAFE standards for model years (MY) 2008 through 2010 using the same CAFE calculations as in the past, and there are Reformed CAFE standards for those years as well, using a new methodology for the calculation of CAFE. For MY 2008 through 2010, the manufacturers can choose either standard. Another change with the Reformed CAFE standards is that larger passenger vans and sport utility vehicles (8,500-10,000 lbs gross vehicle weight) are included, whereas they are not included in the Unreformed CAFE calculations.

New standards for MY 2011 cars and light trucks have recently been published, and NHTSA is researching proposed standards for future model years.