# The Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule III for Model Years 2022 to 2031 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks

**Action Urgency Score:** 90/100

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | Transportation Department; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |
| Type | Final rule |
| Action | Final rule. |
| Published | 2026-09-30 |
| Effective | 2026-11-30 |
| Significant | Yes (EO 12866) |
| CFR parts | 49 CFR 523, 49 CFR 531, 49 CFR 533, 49 CFR 536, 49 CFR 537 |
| Summary | NHTSA, on behalf of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), is substantially recalibrating the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program to bring the program into compliance with the law and to remove previous regulatory distortions which have induced manufacturers to make design decisions that have neither aligned with market demand and the needs of American families nor have delivered the consistent improvements in the fuel economy performance of manufacturer fleets, as Congress intended. This recalibration finalizes amendments to fuel economy standards for light-duty vehicles for m |
| Document number | 2026-19964 |

## Why this score
- Effective date within 30 days.
- Significant rule under EO 12866.
- Final rule.

Source: Federal Register API (Office of the Federal Register) (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/30/2026-19964/the-safer-affordable-fuel-efficient-safe-vehicles-rule-iii-for-model-years-2022-to-2031-passenger). Last refreshed: 2026-11-04T21:40:49.974Z.
Data from the Federal Register API; the published Federal Register document is authoritative. Informational only, not legal advice.