United States (Federal) Vehicle Emissions Inspections

Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE)

CAFE is the sales weighted average fuel economy, expressed in miles per gallon, of a manufacturer's fleet of passenger cars or light trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating of up to 8,500 pounds manufactured for sale in the U.S. for any given model year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is responsible for establishing, amending, and enforcing the CAFE standards, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for calculating the average fuel economy for each manufacturer. Manufacturers are encouraged to produce vehicles capable of operating on alternative fuels and may receive credits toward average fuel economy for every alternative fuel vehicle produced through 2010. For more information about CAFE, including current standards for passenger cars and light trucks, visit the CAFE Web site. (Reference 49 U.S. Code 329)

Point of Contact

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
Phone (888) 327-4236
http://www.nhtsa.gov/