CNBC explains 'Why Fuel Economy Rollbacks Will Spur More Trucks, More V-8 Engines,' a driving update

I closed yesterday's post by telling my readers, "stay tuned for a driving update." I begin with CBNC predicting Why Fuel Economy Rollbacks Will Spur More Trucks, More V-8 Engines.

Lowered compliance costs, greater control over products, more big engines, more pickup trucks. These are just some of the changes investors expect from the rollback of fuel economy rules and the elimination of fines. Data indicate pent up demand for pickup trucks, and many automakers are bringing back V-8 engines. At the same time, hybrid vehicles are surging, and electric vehicles have longer term structural demand in their favor.

Ugh, lower CAFE standards are exactly the wrong thing to introduce when there is a fuel shortage because of the Iran war, which is driving up fuel prices. That's on top of what the increased greenhouse gas emissions will to to increase climate change, not that either Donald "Pervert Hoover" Trump or the Republicans in Congress care about that. They do care about people and companies making money, and this change will allow car companies, especially American ones, to do just that, at least in the short- to medium-term. Long-term, this is a bad plan that I expect will be reversed, eventually. I can at least point to market forces, like demand for high-mileage vehicles, that will ameliorate the effects of lowering standards. The market will at least counteract some of what government won't do.

That's the general driving update. Follow over the jump for my family's personal report.


Ahsoka the Grey's odometer rolled past 3,000 miles on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, exactly eight months (250 days) after it passed 2,000 miles on Friday, February 20, 2026. That translates to exactly 4.00 miles per day, 122 miles per standard month, and 1,460 miles per standard year. Those are much less than the averages of 5.85 miles per day, 178.36 per standard month, and 2,134.50 miles per standard year my wife and I drove her between Tuesday, September 2, 2025 and the 4.74 miles per day, 144.55 miles per standard month, and 1,729.86 miles per standard year my wife and I drove Ahsoka since we bought the car on January 27, 2025 and September 2, 2025. I expected the miles driven would decrease, as I wrote, "my wife's physical therapy sessions should end well before Ahsoka's next driving update and spring and summer will replace winter, so I expect the mileages should drop at the next report." I just didn't expect it would fall this much.

Normally, I'd conclude a report on Ahsoka's miles driven with a combined report, but, as I wrote in CityNerd asks 'Congestion Pricing: Will We Finally Learn?' A driving update, I expect Pearl the Prius's next update will happen next month when she passes 75,000 miles. I'll do it then. In the meantime, I'm postponing the next installment of my Critics Choice Documentary Awards coverage until next month because tomorrow is Horror Movie Day, Saturday is National Food Day, and I'm going full spooky season all next week for Halloween. Priorities. Also, stay tuned.