US projects GM tech costs to fall $20.4 billion through 2031 under new fuel rules

September 28, 2026 at 10:48 PM2 min

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General Motors will see technology costs decline by $20.4 billion through 2031 under new US fuel economy rules finalized Monday, the Transportation Department said. Automakers' total technology costs are estimated to fall by $60.6 billion through 2031, or about $1,289 per vehicle. The new rule is expected to take effect around early December.

Key Facts

GM's technology costs are projected to decline by $20.4 billion through 2031 under the new rule.
Total automaker technology costs are estimated to fall by $60.6 billion through 2031, or about $1,289 per vehicle.
Stellantis costs will decline by $6.6 billion, Ford by $5.8 billion, Toyota by $4.5 billion and Honda by $4.1 billion.
The 2024 fuel economy rules had been estimated to cost GM $31.7 billion through 2031.
The new rule is expected to take effect around early December.

Cost Reductions by Automaker

The US Transportation Department said General Motors will see technology costs decline by $20.4 billion through 2031. Chrysler-parent Stellantis's costs will decline by $6.6 billion, Ford by $5.8 billion, Toyota by $4.5 billion and Honda by $4.1 billion. The 2024 fuel economy rules had been estimated to cost GM $31.7 billion through 2031. Automakers will not need to add expensive emissions equipment to reduce fuel consumption or build more EVs under the new rule.

Rule Background and Penalties

Last year, Congress passed legislation ending penalties for not meeting fuel economy requirements after Stellantis paid about $775 million in civil penalties since 2019. GM paid $128.2 million in penalties for 2016 and 2017. GM also paid a $145.8 million penalty and forfeited fuel economy credits worth hundreds of millions of dollars after a government investigation found excess emissions from approximately 5.9 million GM vehicles. In 2023, under former President Joe Biden, NHTSA said its proposal to hike fuel economy standards through 2032 would cost the industry $14 billion in projected fines including $6.5 billion for GM, $3 billion for Stellantis and $1 billion for Ford Motor. The final rule adopted in 2024 eased requirements and said the auto industry would face no more than $1.83 billion in fines from 2027 through 2031.