Well, in the "Be Careful What You Ask For" file, President Donald Trump recently ordered a review of U.S. vehicle fuel-efficiency standards put in place by Obama. The move is viewed as a victory to the auto industry and it incited criticism from Democrats and environmental groups.
While this order is simply to review the industry-wide standard of more than 50 miles per gallon by 2025 that the Obama administration and the EPA called for, it is a move widely seen as a prelude to relaxing fuel standards.
The 2011 deal called for the EPA to conduct a “mid-term review” of rules for 2022-25 by April 2018. Just before leaving office, however, Obama decided to forgo the 2018 review and ruled that no change in the regulations was warranted for 2022-25.
While Trump took this action in the name of a larger movement to will pursue tax and regulatory policies that would benefit U.S. manufacturers, it has a more direct impact on ag country dealers and our customers.
As I said in my column last month, there is not a 50 MPG pickup that will do what farmers, ranchers and other commercial customers need it to do - at least not at a price point that will work for them.
I think I speak for ALL automobile dealers when I say just let us sell what our customers want at a price they can afford!
