EDITORIAL: Politics hits engineering, but harder

The U.S. auto industry might be getting “more than what they asked for” when it comes to slashing federal fuel economy regulations. That's a quote from Cox Automotive's director of industry insights, Stephanie Valdez Streaty, and reported by multiple outlets. This is a topic you'll find addressed in this month's Supplier Eye (page 6), but it's worth mentioning here just as one more marker in the sand of where things look like they are headed.

On February 12th, the U.S. EPA rescinded the scientific finding that greenhouse gas emissions pose a threat to public health. As vehicles are a main source of GHGs, this finding allowed regulators to, well, regulate. The current White House discounts scientific findings it finds inconvenient, and has now weakened the EPA's power to regulate fuel economy standards. News reports say the administration is likely to reduce the current, agreed-to rules requiring 50.4 mpg (4.67 L/100km) new-vehicle fleet average by model year 2031 to just 34.5 mpg (6.82 L/100km).