How to Read the EPA Automotive Trends Report — Real-World Fuel Economy, EV Effects and the 2025 Edition
EPA Automotive Trends 2025 (new US light-duty vehicles, real-world mpg): model year 2024 at a record 27.2 (+0.1), 25.6 without BEVs/PHEVs; BEVs 7% of new vehicles; model year 2025 preliminary.
Key figures (EPA Automotive Trends Report 2025, model year 2024)
As of 13 November 2026, 01:00 KST (retrieved by this page at that time); latest listed on the agency page at retrieval: the 2025 EPA Automotive Trends Report, whose 13-page Executive Summary (EPA-420-S-26-001, February 2026) is offered on the report files page. It covers model years through 2024 as final data; model year 2025 data are preliminary. Primary source: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2026-02/420s26001.pdf[1][3][6]
| Indicator (new light-duty vehicles, United States, estimated real-world data) | Previous: model year 2023 (2024 report [5] unless stated) | Current: model year 2024 (2025 report [1]) | Change vs previous (EPA's figure where stated; otherwise this page's subtraction of displayed values from two editions) | Change vs year ago (annual data, so the previous column is also the year-ago value) | Evidence type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average fuel economy, all vehicles (mpg; BEVs and PHEVs in mpge) | 27.1 | 27.2 | +0.1 (EPA) | same comparison (annual); EPA calls 27.2 a record high | EPA 2025 Automotive Trends Report, Executive Summary [1], Figure ES-1 |
| Average fuel economy without BEVs and PHEVs (mpg) | 24.9 | 25.6 | +0.7 (this page's subtraction of displayed values from two editions; may include data revisions) | same comparison (annual) | EPA 2025 Automotive Trends Report, Executive Summary [1] and 2024 Executive Summary [5], Figure ES-1 |
| BEV share of all new vehicles | 10% (as stated in the 2025 report) | 7% | -3 percentage points (this page's subtraction of EPA's rounded shares) | same comparison (annual) | EPA 2025 Automotive Trends Report, Executive Summary [1], section on vehicle attributes |
| BEV share of car SUVs | 36% | 30% (plus 3% PHEVs) | -6 percentage points (this page's subtraction of rates shown in two editions; not interpretable as a direct change) | same comparison (annual) | EPA 2025 Automotive Trends Report, Executive Summary [1] and [5] |
| Cars as a share of new vehicles | 38% (under the GHG regulations) | 34% (under NHTSA regulations) | not comparable: different regulatory definitions | not comparable (see Reading in pairs) | EPA 2025 Automotive Trends Report, Executive Summary [1] and [5] |
Comparison basis: fuel economy is EPA's estimated real-world figure in miles per gallon, with BEVs and PHEVs counted in mpge, as printed to one decimal. EPA's own changes are used where it states them; other differences subtract the displayed values of two report editions and may include data revisions. EPA notes that it calculates from unrounded values, so differences of the rounded figures can be 0.1 off, as shown below.[1][2]
In three lines
1. EPA puts the average model year 2024 new vehicle at a record 27.2 mpg real-world, 0.1 mpg above model year 2023.
2. Without BEVs and PHEVs the figure is 25.6 mpg; BEVs fell from 10% to 7% of new vehicles.
3. Truck SUVs reached half of new vehicle production, with 25.7 mpg, while sedan/wagons and car SUVs had lower fuel economy.[1]
What the report measures
Real-world estimates, not CAFE values. The fuel economy figures are estimated real-world values from additional laboratory tests. The summary warns: "This data encompasses results from additional testing compared to CAFE data and should not be compared directly to reported CAFE fuel economy compliance values."[1]
Electric vehicles in the average. "Throughout this report, the fuel economy of BEVs and PHEVs are measured in terms of miles per gallon of gasoline equivalent, or mpge." These values are included in fleetwide averages unless noted, which is why EPA also shows figures without BEVs and PHEVs: "Without BEVs and PHEVs, the average new vehicle real-world fuel economy in 2024 was 1.7 mpg lower."[1][2]
Final and preliminary years. Model years 1975 to 2024 are final data submitted to EPA and NHTSA; model year 2025 data are based on manufacturers' projections and are shown only as a dot in the figure. The summary says: "These data may change significantly before being finalized."[1]
A narrower report than before. The 2024 report covered greenhouse gas emissions and manufacturers' performance under EPA's GHG standards. The 2025 summary says EPA finalized a rule in February 2026 eliminating GHG standards for light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, and: "This report has likewise eliminated sections that in previous versions evaluated compliance with the eliminated GHG standards." CO2 figures such as the 319 g/mi reported for model year 2023 in the 2024 report therefore have no model year 2024 counterpart in the 2025 summary.[1][4][5]
Reading in pairs
1.7 mpg in the text, 1.6 from the figure. The figure labels give 27.2 mpg for all vehicles and 25.6 without BEVs and PHEVs, a displayed gap of 1.6, while the text says 1.7. Likewise pickups show 20.5 and 20.3 (0.2) while the text says: "Minivan/van fuel economy was 0.6 mpg higher due to 5% PHEVs (and no BEVs), while pickup fuel economy was 0.3 mpg higher, due to 2% BEVs (and no PHEVs)." EPA's footnote explains its method: "This approach results in the most accurate data but may lead to small apparent discrepancies due to rounding."[1][2]
Cars: 38% or 34%. The 2024 report said: "In model year 2023, 38% of all new vehicles were cars and 62% of all new vehicles were trucks under the GHG regulations." The 2025 report says: "In model year 2024, 34% of all new vehicles were cars and 66% of all new vehicles were trucks under NHTSA regulations." The two shares use different regulatory definitions (GHG regulations and NHTSA regulations), so the 4-point gap is not a like-for-like change.[1][5]
A figure reference. The text says two categories of advanced transmissions are shown in Figure ES-3, but in the summary Figure ES-3 is Fuel Economy by Vehicle Type, while the CVT and 7+ Gears columns appear in Figure ES-5. The same wording appears on the highlights page. Which figure was meant is not established.[1][2]
Weight, power and size fell slightly. The section heading says fuel economy, horsepower, weight and footprint have generally increased in recent years, while the text says that in model year 2024 weight, horsepower and footprint all fell slightly (less than 5%), and EPA attributes this in part to lower BEV production. Model year 2024 values are 258 hp, 4354 lb (as printed) and 51.5 square feet.[1]
Car SUVs and BEVs. BEVs were 36% of model year 2023 car SUVs in the 2024 report and 30% of model year 2024 car SUVs in the 2025 report; this difference between rates shown in two editions is not interpretable as a direct change, since the classification basis may differ. The 2025 report also says car SUVs had lower fuel economy in model year 2024. EPA states that BEVs and PHEVs raised car SUV fuel economy by 9.0 mpg (39.2 against 30.2 without them).[1][5]
Manufacturers in model year 2024
Highest and lowest. "For model year 2024 alone, Tesla's all-electric fleet had the highest fuel economy of all large manufacturers at 117.1 mpg." EPA lists Honda (31.0), Hyundai (29.8) and Kia (29.2) next, and Stellantis (22.8), GM (22.9) and Ford (23.4) as the lowest of the 14 large manufacturers. Tesla's value is in mpge.[1][2]
Five-year changes. EPA reports that 13 of the 14 largest manufacturers increased fuel economy between model years 2019 and 2024, led by Toyota (+3.3 mpg), BMW (+2.8) and Mercedes (+2.4), with Tesla the only decrease. For all manufacturers the figure shows 24.9 mpg in 2019 and 27.2 in 2024 (24.6 and 25.6 without BEVs and PHEVs).[1]
Dates and next release
Dates kept apart. Data: final through model year 2024, preliminary for 2025. Report: 2025 edition, Executive Summary dated February 2026 (EPA-420-S-26-001); previous edition: 2024 report, Executive Summary dated November 2024 (EPA-420-S-24-001). Highlights and report files pages: Last updated on February 19, 2026; landing page: Last updated on September 25, 2026.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Next release. The report pages give no date for a 2026 edition, so the next release date is not established.[3][6]
Verified facts
Each fact is labelled with its evidence typeEach fact in this section carries its evidence type — either cross-checked against independent sources, or confirmed from a single authoritative record.
EPA's 2025 Automotive Trends Report gives a record average real-world fuel economy of 27.2 mpg for model year 2024 new vehicles, 0.1 mpg above model year 2023, and 25.6 mpg without BEVs and PHEVs.[1][2] 1 source · authoritative record
EPA reports that BEVs fell from 10% to 7% of all new vehicles in model year 2024 and that truck SUVs account for half of new vehicle production.[1] 1 source · authoritative record
The 2025 report removed sections evaluating compliance with GHG standards after EPA finalized a rule in February 2026 eliminating those standards.[1] 1 source · authoritative record
EPA's 2024 Automotive Trends Report gave model year 2023 real-world fuel economy as 27.1 mpg and CO2 emissions as 319 g/mi.[5] 1 source · authoritative record
Statements and readings
Not counted as facts — each item shows what kind of statement it isFrom here on: statements not counted as facts — single-source reports, the issuing body’s own statements, and this page’s own readings, each labeled.
The 1.7 mpg and 0.3 mpg effects stated in the text differ by 0.1 from the displayed figure values (1.6 and 0.2), consistent with EPA's note that it calculates from unrounded values.[1] Stated by the issuing body itself (primary source) · not independently verified · inference from comparing the text with the figure labels of the 2025 Executive Summary
The share of cars fell from 38% to 34% in the two reports, but the two shares use GHG and NHTSA definitions respectively, so the change is not like for like.[1][5] Stated by the issuing body itself (primary source) · not independently verified · inference from comparing the 2024 and 2025 Executive Summaries
The text refers to Figure ES-3 for advanced transmissions, while the transmission columns appear in Figure ES-5; which figure was meant is not established.[1][2] Stated by the issuing body itself (primary source) · not independently verified · inference from reading the 2025 Executive Summary
Timeline
What this page could not establish
These are questions this page tried to answer and could not. The gaps are left open rather than filled with a guess.- Which figure does the transmission sentence refer to?
- When will the next report be published?
- Model
- claude-opus-5
- Time
- 11/13/2026, 01:00
- Body characters
- 7,762
- Sources
- 6 sources adopted
- Model
- ChatGPT (checked sources on the web)
- Time
- 11/13/2026, 01:20
- Verdict
- Revision required
Show revision history (3)
| 11/13/2026, 09:00 | First authored (claude-opus-5) | Created |
| 11/13/2026 | First version. Read in full the 2025 and 2024 Executive Summaries, the highlights, report files and previous-edition pages and the landing page of EPA's Automotive Trends Report; quotations are complete sentences matched against the source text of the document named. | Updated |
| 11/13/2026 | Revised after review: the without-BEV/PHEV change is described as this page's subtraction of displayed values from two editions; BEV share changes are given as percentage points from this page's subtraction, and the car SUV BEV rates from two editions are marked as not interpretable as a direct change and no longer used in the FAQ; the FAQ asks about all new light-duty vehicles; the February 19, 2026 update date is limited to the highlights and report files pages, and the landing page date of September 25, 2026 is added. The full report was not added, so the 24.9 value remains from the 2024 edition. | Updated |
Frequently asked
What is the average fuel economy of all new light-duty vehicles in the US?
27.2 mpg for model year 2024, the latest final year in EPA's 2025 Automotive Trends Report (published February 2026), a record high; it counts BEVs and PHEVs in mpge.[1]
How much do electric vehicles raise the average?
1.7 mpg in model year 2024 by EPA's text: without BEVs and PHEVs the average was 25.6 mpg; BEVs were 7% of new vehicles.[1]
Can I compare EPA's 27.2 mpg with CAFE figures?
No: the 27.2 mpg is an estimated real-world value from additional tests, and EPA says it should not be compared directly with reported CAFE compliance values.[1]
Which automaker has the best fuel economy?
Tesla at 117.1 mpge in model year 2024 among the 14 large manufacturers, then Honda (31.0), Hyundai (29.8) and Kia (29.2), per EPA; Stellantis was lowest at 22.8.[1]
Does the 2025 report still cover CO2 emissions?
Not the GHG compliance sections: after EPA eliminated GHG standards in February 2026, the 2025 report removed them; the 2024 report had given 319 g/mi of CO2 for model year 2023.[1][5]
Official links
- Official EPA — The Automotive Trends Report
Sources
- [1] The 2025 EPA Automotive Trends Report: Executive Summary (EPA-420-S-26-001), PDF primary
- [2] Highlights of the Automotive Trends Report (EPA) primary
- [3] Automotive Trends Report files page (EPA) primary
- [4] 2024 Automotive Trends Report files page (EPA) primary
- [5] The 2024 EPA Automotive Trends Report: Executive Summary (EPA-420-S-24-001), PDF primary
- [6] The EPA Automotive Trends Report (landing page) primary