The average production-weighted fuel economy for all new light-duty vehicles in model year (MY) 2019 was 95% better than in MY 1975.
April 27, 2020
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The average production-weighted fuel economy for all new light-duty vehicles in model year (MY) 2019 was 95% better than in MY 1975, while average horsepower was 78% higher and weight was 1% higher. From the late 1980s to the mid-2000s, fuel economy generally declined while horsepower and weight increased. Since 2004, due to technical innovations, fuel economy and horsepower have increased while vehicle weight has stayed about the same.
Note: Data for 2019 are preliminary. All data are production weighted.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2019 EPA Automotive Trends Report, EPA-420-R-20-006, March 2020