The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Dec. 20 released its annual Automotive Trends Report, which showed that model year (MY) 2022 vehicle fuel economy reached a record high while emission levels dropped to record low levels. The report also showed that through the MY 2022 reporting period, all 14 large manufacturers are in compliance with the light-duty greenhouse gas program requirements.
“As the United States accelerates towards a clean transportation future, today’s report highlights the historic progress made so far by the industry to reduce climate pollution and other harmful emissions,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “We are thrilled to see manufacturers continue to innovate and develop technologies in multiple vehicle categories that have led to a substantial increase in miles per gallon, passing cost savings onto families across the nation.”
Key Highlights of the Report
- New vehicle carbon dioxide emissions and fuel economy had the biggest annual improvement of the last nine years, reaching record low CO2 emissions and record high fuel economy.
- From MY 2021-22, average fuel economy increased by 0.6 mpg, more than double the annual rate of improvement in fuel economy over the last decade.
- Most vehicle types are at their best-ever fuel economy, including SUVs, which increased their fuel economy by 2.4 mpg in MY 2022.
- The average estimated real-world CO2 emission rate for all new vehicles fell by 3% to the lowest level ever reported.
- Since MY 2004, CO2 emissions have decreased 27% and fuel economy has increased 35%.
- Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles helped reduce the overall average CO2 emissions from the MY 2022 fleet by 22 grams per mile and improved fuel economy by 1.2 mpg in MY 2022.
Most manufacturers have made improvements in fuel economy over the past five years, and they continue to use a wide array of advanced technologies to achieve CO2 emissions, fuel economy and performance goals. In MY 2022, the combined category of electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles and fuel cell vehicles increased from 4% vehicles produced for sale in the U.S. in MY 2021 to 7% in MY 2022, and are projected to reach 12% in MY 2023. This trend will likely continue as EV production is expected to grow across the industry in coming years.
Read the full EPA Annual Automotive Trends Report and learn more about the trends.
