--- title: "Feds’ MPG Rollback Will Make Cars Cheaper, So You Can Spend All the Money Saved on Gas Instead: TDS" date: "2026-09-28" modified: "2026-09-28" authors: - name: "Adam Ismail" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/adam-ismail.md" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/feds-mpg-rollback-will-make-cars-cheaper-so-you-can-spend-all-the-money-saved-on-gas-instead-tds" categories: - "News" - "The Downshift" --- # Feds’ MPG Rollback Will Make Cars Cheaper, So You Can Spend All the Money Saved on Gas Instead: TDS ![Drivers queue at a Walmart gas station in Eagle Mountain, Utah on Sept. 8.]() *Drivers queue at a Walmart gas station in Eagle Mountain, Utah on Sept. 8. \Charles-McClintock Wilson/NurPhoto via Getty Images\* Good morning and welcome to [The Downshift](), a daily sweep of today’s top headlines from the auto industry and car culture, curated by *The Drive’s* editorial team. Each story gets a short summary and a link to the original source if you want to dive deeper. Here’s what’s cooking on Monday, September 28, 2026: ⛽ The Department of Transportation is expected to introduce drastically less stringent Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards today. While the Biden administration required mile-per-gallon increases of 8% in 2024 and 2025, 10% for 2026, and 2% annually through 2031, back in December, Trump's DOT proposed lowering the bar to 2022's level, then only asking automakers for increases ranging from 0.25% to 0.5% every year through 2031. Altogether, that would translate to a fleetwide average of 34.5 mpg in 2031, when Biden's DOT would've had the market at 50.4 mpg. Thirstier cars are cheaper to produce—the government estimates this move will save new-car buyers $930 on average—but with gas prices being what they are and the typical car-owning American projected to spend anywhere from an additional $500 to over $800 on fuel in 2026 alone, according to [some]() [experts](), it won't be quite the boost it's billed as. *\[[Reuters]()\]* 🔩 Volkswagen Group will recall 4 million cars around the world for a rust-prone bolt within the steering system that could lead to predictable problems if it shears. VW, Audi, Seat, and Skoda models are all impacted. *\[[Automotive News]()\]* 🏭 Ford reportedly suspended F-150 production at its Dearborn Truck Plant on Thursday and the stoppage is expected to last through Tuesday. The reason for the pause is currently unclear. *\[[Reuters]()\]* 📱 Another day, another malfunctioning center display/rearview camera recall. This one is hitting about 11,400 Ford Ranger pickups, specifically built between April and September of this year. Ford will notify owners when a fix is ready. *\[[Autoblog]()\]* 👪 Despite the total decline in automotive sales in the U.S. through 2026, sales of minivans in particular are up 8% through August compared to the same eight-month period last year. *\[[Bloomberg]()\]* ⛐ Lamborghini product line director Paolo Racchetti said in an interview, "Definitely, there could be a car such as the Sterrato," referring to a future potential off-road-skewed version of the Temerario supercar, like the company did for the Huracán. *\[[CarExpert]()\]* Ⓜ️ There is exactly one W10-powered BMW M5 in the world, built for former Volkswagen chairman Ferdinand Piëch. It's heading to auction in Belgium next month, and projected to sell for up to $400,000. Honestly, I'm surprised that estimate isn't higher. *\[[BMW Blog]()\]* **🏁 Weekend race winners:** - **Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix:** George Russell for Mercedes - **NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Kansas:** Kaden Honeycutt for Tricon Garage - **World Endurance Championship 6 Hours of Fuji:** Ryo Hirakawa, Brendon Hartley, and Sébastien Buemi for Toyota - **British Touring Car Championship at Silverstone:** Aiden Moffat (Race 1), Ash Sutton (Race 2), Tom Ingram (Race 3) - **NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas:** Kyle Larson for Hendrick Motorsports - **NHRA Drag Racing Rockingham Finals:** Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), Greg Stanfield (Pro Stock) *Got a tip or feedback for The Downshift? Reach out to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Adam is a Senior Editor at The Drive, concentrating on curating and developing the site's slate of daily journalism, from initial pitch to final copy edit. When he's not at his desk researching leads and working with writers, he's testing vehicles or reviewing racing games, new and old. He joined The Drive in 2023, following seven years of covering consumer technology and cars. A car lover and gamer since his earliest memories, Adam came to know the automotive world through video games. First it was Daytona USA, Sega Rally, and Ridge Racer; then came Need For Speed, which inspired an encyclopedic knowledge of '90s supercars, and, of course, Gran Turismo. If not for them, he'd assuredly be doing something else right now. Adam is based in the suburbs outside Philly, where there are ample roads for his hot hatch to stretch its legs. In his car, he's probably listening to indie rock, drum and bass, or Yankees baseball. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()