美國車市大倒車

美國白宮日前宣布將大幅放寬企業平均燃油效率標準（CAFE），相關計畫於白宮活動中正式對外說明，現場出席者包括福特汽車（Ford Motor Co.）執行長 Jim Farley，以及斯泰蘭蒂斯（Stellantis）執行長 Antonio Filosa。此舉象徵川普政府正式推動對拜登時期汽車節能政策的全面回調。

The White House has announced plans to significantly roll back the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, unveiling the move at an event attended by Ford Motor Co. CEO Jim Farley and Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa. The decision marks a major reversal of the Biden-era approach to vehicle fuel efficiency and emissions regulation.

目前，包括福特與通用汽車（General Motors）在內的美國大型車廠，仍高度依賴燃油皮卡與 SUV 的美國市場銷售作為主要獲利來源，並坦言在低產量電動車（EV）業務上尚未實現獲利。白宮於週三發布的政策事實說明文件指出，若維持現行 CAFE 標準，車廠將被迫調漲燃油車售價，以彌補電動車虧損，進而推升消費者生活成本。

U.S. automakers such as Ford and General Motors continue to rely heavily on domestic sales of gas-powered trucks and SUVs for the bulk of their profits and have acknowledged that their low-volume electric vehicle (EV) programs remain unprofitable. According to a fact sheet released by the White House on Wednesday, maintaining the current CAFE standards would force automakers to raise prices on gas-powered vehicles to offset EV losses, driving up overall vehicle costs and contributing to higher living expenses for consumers.

白宮認為，下調 CAFE 標準是「合理且務實」的政策選擇，可避免車廠被迫遵守「不可行的標準」。此一立場也獲得 Farley 呼應。福特近年在電動車業務上連續虧損，其 Model e 電動車部門 2024 年虧損 51 億美元，2023 年亦虧損 47 億美元，包括 F-150 Lightning 在內的多款電動車型，均對公司財務造成明顯壓力。

The administration argues that lowering CAFE requirements is a practical move to ensure automakers are not bound by “infeasible standards.” Farley echoed this position, as Ford has posted significant losses in its EV business. The company’s Model e division lost $5.1 billion in 2024, following a $4.7 billion loss in 2023, with vehicles such as the F-150 Lightning weighing heavily on financial performance.

Farley said Ford appreciates President Trump’s leadership in aligning fuel economy standards with market realities, adding that progress on carbon emissions and energy efficiency can still be made while preserving consumer choice and affordability.

Farley 表示，作為美國最大汽車製造商，福特肯定川普政府「讓燃油效率標準回歸市場現實」的政策方向，並認為在兼顧消費者選擇與可負擔性的前提下，美國仍能在碳排放與能源效率方面取得實質進展。

然而，環保團體與部分政策觀察人士對此提出強烈批評。他們指出，在全球汽車產業加速電動化的背景下，美國若放緩節能與電動車推動步伐，恐將削弱其長期競爭力。中國車廠如比亞迪（BYD）與吉利（Geely）正積極擴大電動車產能，並加速出口至歐洲等市場，形成明顯對比。

生物多樣性中心（Center for Biological Diversity）安全氣候運輸計畫主任 Dan Becker 指出，美國曾在小布希政府時期因燃油效率標準過於寬鬆，導致車廠忽視技術升級，最終引發產業競爭力下滑，並在金融危機期間造成「底特律三大車廠」中兩家破產，迫使政府動用 800 億美元紓困。

Environmental groups, however, have strongly criticized the rollback, warning it could undermine U.S. competitiveness as global automakers accelerate electrification. Chinese manufacturers such as BYD and Geely are rapidly expanding EV production and exports to Europe and other markets, highlighting a growing divergence in global strategy.

Dan Becker, director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s Safe Climate Transport Campaign, said the U.S. has “seen this movie before,” pointing to the George W. Bush era, when weaker fuel economy standards allowed Detroit automakers to delay technological upgrades. That period, he noted, culminated in bankruptcies among two of the Big Three and an $80 billion taxpayer-funded bailout during the Great Recession.

川普政府則主張，拜登政府於 2022 年公布的 CAFE 修訂標準已超出國會 1975 年立法授權，並違反原有法律精神。該標準原要求 2026 年乘用車與輕型卡車的平均燃油效率達到約每加侖 49 英里，並持續提升至 2031 年。

The Trump administration contends that the Biden-era CAFE standards, announced in April 2022, exceeded congressional authority granted when the program was created in 1975. Those standards called for an industry-wide fleet average of roughly 49 miles per gallon for model year 2026 passenger cars and light trucks, with incremental increases through 2031.

事實上，放寬 CAFE 的政策方向自川普今年 1 月就職後便已醞釀。6 月，川普簽署決議，終止加州數十年來更嚴格的排放規範，而加州政策原本要求 2035 年起停止銷售新款內燃機車輛，且已有 17 個州採納該標準。7 月，川普再簽署《勞工家庭減稅法案》，將違反 CAFE 的民事罰款降至 0 美元，作為保護美國本土車廠的前置措施。

Plans to weaken CAFE standards have been under discussion since January, shortly after Trump’s inauguration. In June, Trump signed a joint resolution ending California’s long-standing, more stringent emissions mandates, which include a phaseout of new internal combustion engine vehicle sales by 2035 and have been adopted by 17 other states. In July, he signed the Working Families Tax Cut Act, reducing civil penalties for CAFE violations to $0, a move the administration said was intended to shield U.S. automakers from fuel economy fines.

根據美國國家公路交通安全管理局（NHTSA）資料，自 1975 年 CAFE 制度實施以來，美國每日石油消耗量已減少約 500 萬桶，降幅約 25%，原意在於提升能源安全並降低對化石燃料的依賴。

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, CAFE standards have reduced U.S. oil consumption by approximately 25%, or about five million barrels per day, since their inception. Originally designed to strengthen energy independence and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, the standards now sit at the center of a broader debate over industrial competitiveness.

Becker 進一步警告，若美國車廠因政策放鬆而延後電動化轉型，可能在全球汽車科技競賽中落後。2024 年全球電動車銷量已突破 1,700 萬輛，年增 25%，約占全球新售輕型車的 20%。在此趨勢下，美國汽車產業的長期競爭力正面臨關鍵抉擇。

Becker warned that easing fuel efficiency requirements could leave U.S. automakers lagging in the global transition to electrification. Global EV sales surpassed 17 million units in 2024, up 25% year over year, accounting for about 20% of new light-duty vehicle sales worldwide. As the global auto industry moves steadily toward electrification, the long-term consequences of the U.S. policy shift remain uncertain.