- The Trump administration says it will eliminate requirements for stop-start technology for cars, with EPA chief Lee Zeldin calling the technology “absurd.”
- Car and driver questions how a policy change on this scale would actually work, given that most of the country’s newer vehicles already have this technology on board.
- Here’s what six major automakers said when we reached out.
As part of a major policy change, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says it is “eliminating” engine stop-start systems from America’s roads. Given that there are already millions of cars on the road with this system, how will this regulatory change manifest itself in our vehicles? Only time will tell, but we wanted to know what the automakers have to say about this recent decision. So we asked.
Statement from Hyundai was the most specific we received, noting that the EPA’s rule changes simply remove incentives for automakers to use this technology, rather than banning it: “Start-stop technology has never been federally mandated, and the EPA’s recent action removes the regulatory incentives associated with it rather than banning its use. Hyundai continues to comply with all applicable emissions regulations and regularly evaluates vehicle technologies based on customer feedback, regulatory requirements, and overall efficiency. At this time, we will continue to assess future developments as the regulations are evolving.”
Ford’s statement was less specific about how these policy changes could affect its vehicles, but clearly appears to support the change: “We appreciate the work of President Trump and Administrator Zeldin to address the imbalance between current emissions standards and customer choice. Ford has consistently advocated for a single, stable national standard that aligns with customer choice, the marketplace, social benefit and American job growth.”
Many others had nothing to say on the subject. “We cannot comment on that now. Still too new to know anything about it,” said A Subaru spokesperson. General Motors’ answer was similar, saying, “We have nothing to share at this time.”
Toyota, Nissan and Honda have all postponed to a statement from the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a collective of 42 automakers that previously petitioned President Trump about EV policy changes. Honda said; “We have nothing to share at this time. Please contact AFAI if you have any questions.”
John Bozzella, president and CEO of Alliance for Automotive Innovation, said:
“Today’s action is consistent with EPA’s earlier announcement that it intended to withdraw the hazard finding and correct some of the unachievable emissions rules from the previous administration. I’ve said it before: the automotive emissions rules finalized during the previous administration are extremely challenging for automakers to achieve given the current market demand for electric cars. America’s auto industry remains focused on preserving vehicle choice for consumers, keeping the industry competitive, and continuing to monitor a long-term path of emissions reductions and cleaner vehicles.”
This diversity of responses proves that it is too early to make sweeping judgments about the effects this policy change will have on the cars we drive. But we’ll be on the lookout for any changes these automakers may make (or not make) to their U.S. market vehicles in the future, in response to the current EPA administration’s fight against stop-start technology.
Despite growing up on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas (or perhaps because of them), Joey Capparella still cultivated an obsession with the automotive industry while growing up in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led to him moving to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional car writing gig at Automobile magazine. He has been part of the Car and driver team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.
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