It’s been several months since we surveyed top automotive executives and insiders on the major legal issues facing the industry for our 2023 Automotive Trends Report.

As the automotive world continues to evolve and navigate a shifting legal landscape, we look at some of the major themes driving it forward… and the ones that might be in the rearview mirror.

How is Government Policy shaping the future of the automotive industry? Mary Beth McGowan, Andy Buczek, and James Brandell dive in. 

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Fuel efficiency standards

More than half of all respondents to our 2023 Automotive Trends Report viewed “stricter fuel efficiency standards” as a primary driver of automotive activity this year. Six months later, new regulations from the EPA and NHTSA indicate the Biden administration has only tightened its grip on fossil fuel emissions. In April, the EPA proposed the “strongest-ever” pollution standards  for all light-duty and medium-duty vehicles starting with model year 2027, which the agency believes could avoid nearly 10 billion tons of CO2 emission over the next three decades. Meanwhile, the NHTSA has proposed new standards for passenger cars and light trucks that if finalized, would increase fuel economy by 2% year over year for passenger cars and 4% year over year for light trucks.

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Electric vehicle prices

Recent actions from the Biden administration have made one thing abundantly clear: electric vehicles need to be more affordable for all Americans. In its quest to accelerate EV adoption and have 50% of all new vehicle sales be electric by 2030, the White House has announced a slew of new initiatives as part of its broader Investing in America agenda. In April, the administration announced an expansion of tax incentives for purchases of new and used EVs under the Inflation Reduction Act, in addition to earlier incentives to electrify heavy-duty vehicles and bolster the nation’s EV charging infrastructure. In July, the Department of Energy issued three new rounds of funding to modernize the nation’s electrical grid under the Grid Resilience Formula Grants program, totaling $362M to date. 

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Photo of Mary Beth McGowan Mary Beth McGowan

Mary Beth McGowan works with local governments, nonprofit organizations, and corporations to understand their goals and help them navigate both Congress and federal agencies. Mary Beth also helps her clients identify funding opportunities and make key contacts throughout the federal government.

Photo of Andrew J. Buczek Andrew J. Buczek

Andrew Buczek is a government policy advisor in Dykema’s Government Policy Practice Group. He has over 10 years of federal public policy and political experience assisting clients in developing effective legislative, regulatory and political strategies. His practice focuses on building successful partnerships between…

Andrew Buczek is a government policy advisor in Dykema’s Government Policy Practice Group. He has over 10 years of federal public policy and political experience assisting clients in developing effective legislative, regulatory and political strategies. His practice focuses on building successful partnerships between the federal government and nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions, local governments and private industry, with an emphasis in the areas of housing, manufacturing, transportation, science and technology, as well as a wide array of local government and economic development projects.

Photo of James Brandell James Brandell

James Brandell is the leader of Dykema’s federal government relations team. With more than 20 years of government relations experience on state, federal and international levels, Mr. Brandell has extensive experience crafting and implementing legislative and political strategy; attracting, managing and retaining talented…

James Brandell is the leader of Dykema’s federal government relations team. With more than 20 years of government relations experience on state, federal and international levels, Mr. Brandell has extensive experience crafting and implementing legislative and political strategy; attracting, managing and retaining talented staff; and developing and managing multimillion dollar budgets.