The new 2019 model year cars sold in the United States consumed on average more than a year earlier. That is at odds with the trend. Manufacturers failing to meet emissions targets continue to buy from other manufacturers on a large scale.
The average consumption of all new 2019 model year cars sold in the US was 1 liter at 10.59 km. Although that is quite an improvement compared to 15 years ago (1 in 8.2), it is worse than in 2018. That message Reuters based on figures from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Then the average consumption was still 1 in 10.67. The three major American car groups, with their fleets, are on average even less favorable than the average consumption of all new cars sold in the US. For General Motors and Ford that is 1 liter on 9.57 km. Fiat Chrysler is doing even worse, with 1 in 9.02. According to the EPA, the higher average fuel consumption is mainly due to the growing popularity of SUVs. Passenger cars, which tend to be lighter and more streamlined, are less and less sold in the US.
However, the EPA expects improvement for new cars sold from model year 2020. Over the total fleet of that year, consumption is estimated at an average of 1 liter on 10.93 km. That would be more in line with the trend, given that the average fuel consumption of the new US fleet has not dropped for only three years in the last 15 years. At the same time, the increasing popularity of SUVs is something that needs to be compensated for by electric cars and cars with more efficient powertrains. The consumption and emission requirements will probably be tightened under future President Biden, President Trump has largely reversed these.
Emissions trading
Because many manufacturers also do not yet meet the current EPA emission targets, they buy from other manufacturers with a more favorable average emission credit. Similar to what is happening in the EU with CO2 emissions. Honda, Tesla and Toyota are the largest sellers of such credit in the US. FCA is the largest customer, but European manufacturers such as BMW and Daimler (Mercedes-Benz) were also according to Reuters forced to do so.