The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released data in February 2026 indicating that the average fuel economy for new vehicles reached a record 27.2 miles per gallon in 2024. Tesla led all automakers with an average of 118 mpg, benefiting from sales of electric vehicles, while Honda ranked second at 31 mpg. The findings come amid moves by the Trump administration to roll back federal emission standards.
The EPA's latest report, covering model year 2024 and comparing trends from 2019, highlights steady improvements in automotive fuel efficiency across the industry. Overall, the average new vehicle fuel economy stood at 27.2 mpg, a record high and a 41% increase from model year 2004. The agency noted that fuel economy has improved in 16 of the last 20 years.
Tesla topped the rankings with an average of 118 mpg, up slightly from 117.1 mpg in 2019, a 0.77% change. This performance is largely due to the company's sales of 589,160 electric vehicles in 2024, as reported by Cox Automotive. Federal rules grant extra credit for electric and plug-in hybrid sales, allowing Tesla to earn regulatory credits; the company reported $401 million in such credits for the fourth quarter of 2025. However, an AutoGuide.com analysis of the same EPA study suggested Tesla was getting less efficient over the five-year period, contrasting with the raw data showing a modest gain.
Among non-Tesla manufacturers, Honda ranked second with 31 mpg, a 7.27% improvement from 28.9 mpg in 2019, aided by hybrid models and a new electric vehicle. Hyundai placed third at 29.8 mpg (up 4.56%), followed by Kia at 29.2 mpg (up 3.91%). Toyota climbed to fifth with 29 mpg, reflecting a 12.4% increase from 2019, driven by its hybrid lineup. The best-selling models included Tesla Model Y, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, and Toyota RAV4.
At the lower end, Stellantis averaged 22.8 mpg, up from 21.2 mpg in 2019, but has faced fines totaling $190 million in each of the past two years for failing to meet Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards in 2019 and 2020 model years.
This data emerges as the Trump administration seeks to eliminate most federal fuel economy and emission rules, which currently mandate averages exceeding 50 mpg by 2031. Officials argue that easing these standards could enable automakers to produce more affordable vehicles.
