re: CAFE standards terminated, Hilux trucks back on the menu boys

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Explain this to me like I'm 5 years old.

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CAFE standards have continuously pushed average fleet mileage higher, while having exemptions for heavier vehicles that were considered fleet type vehicles (trucks and SUVs). The pressure to meet the elevated standards led manufacturers to chase a few directions simultaneously.

1. smaller turbocharged engines and hybrids powering most vehicles to help push mileage rates up

2. building heavy SUVs that fall into the exempt territory

3. Adding features that actually damage longevity, like auto stop-start, EGR, active fuel management and cylinder deactivation

Doing those thing has basically eliminated a large portion of the small truck market, anything larger than 2.0 turbo engines, and sedans and mid size vehicles generally. Because offering those things meant significant damage to the CAFE standard that you had to hit.

The Biden administration pushed the CAFE standard to over 50 MPG by the early 2030's. To do this it would mean that manufacturers would have to shift heavily to EV's and very heavy exempt vehicles, since even the best hybrids can just get into the 50 MPG territory. The future CAFE standards would have severely limited consumer options and most of the vehicles that would be available would be very expensive. Removing the standards brings many models potentially back into the market, like small trucks. Largely they have been absent because of the hit each manufacturer would take to their corporate economy average.

fully on board with this.

Exactly. All the good things are going to get reversed because of a worthless arse Congress/Senate.