Trump Administration Rolls Back Vehicle Emission Standards, Eliminates Start-Stop Feature Credit
WASHINGTON – The Trump administration has formally repealed the “endangerment finding,” a key legal and scientific basis for federal vehicle emission regulations, and eliminated a credit incentivizing automakers to install start-stop technology in novel vehicles. The move, announced on February 12, 2026, represents what the administration has described as the “single largest deregulatory action in U.S. History.”
The start-stop feature, which automatically shuts off an engine when a vehicle is idle – such as at a red light – was widely used in approximately two-thirds of new cars, aiming to improve fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. According to analysis, the technology could improve fuel economy by 7% to 26%, depending on driving conditions. Still, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) described the feature as “almost universally hated” in its announcement.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated that the regulatory overhaul will save consumers an average of $2,400 on new car purchases. “There will be no more climate participation trophies awarded to manufacturers for making Americans’ cars die at every red light and stop sign,” Zeldin said. “It’s over, done, finished.”
The decision to eliminate the credit means automakers can still choose to include the start-stop function in their vehicles, but they will no longer receive regulatory benefits for doing so. This action effectively reverses a policy established by the Obama EPA in 2012. The administration’s move is part of a broader rollback of environmental regulations, including the elimination of greenhouse gas emission standards for cars, trucks, and power plants.
The EPA’s action formally repeals the “endangerment finding,” which had provided the legal justification for regulating greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane. This decision is expected to have significant implications for the automotive industry and the future of fuel efficiency standards. The rollback of these regulations could potentially lower vehicle prices, but also raises concerns about environmental impact.
The move follows a period of debate over the effectiveness and consumer acceptance of the start-stop feature. While intended to improve fuel economy, some drivers found the feature disruptive and undesirable. CBS News reported on the Trump administration’s initial steps to end the credit for this technology.
Further details on the regulatory changes can be found in reports from USA TODAY and The New York Times. Additional coverage is available from iDNES.cz, Novinky, Auto.cz, Echo24, and Autoforum.cz.
