The Latest: Trump administration denounces gas mileage deal

DETROIT (AP) — The Latest on California reaching a deal with four automakers over fuel standards (all times local):

12:40 p.m.

The Trump administration is denouncing a deal between California and four major automakers that would bypass administration rollbacks for mileage standards.

California and the automakers announced Thursday they had struck a deal for years of steady increases in fuel efficiency for cars and light trucks.

The Trump administration has sought to weaken future mileage standards instead, rolling back Obama administration plans for years of steady gains in fuel efficiency.

Environmental Protection Agency spokesman Michael Abboud calls California’s separate deal with the automakers a “PR stunt.”

California says the tougher mileage standards are essential to cutting climate-changing exhaust from tailpipes. Opponents say consumers want bigger cars.

The administration is also seeking to revoke California’s longstanding power to set its own mileage standards. About a dozen other states follow California’s standards.

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8:40 a.m.

A person briefed on the matter says four major automakers have reached a secret deal with California to increase gas mileage and greenhouse gas emissions standards.

Ford, BMW, Honda and Volkswagen are parties to the deal with the California Air Resources Board that bypasses the Trump Administration’s plan to freeze the standards at 2021 levels.

The person says that under the deal, fuel economy and corresponding greenhouse gas standards would rise 3.7% per year from 2022 to 2026. The person didn’t want to be identified because details of the deal haven’t been formally released.

The Trump administration had proposed freezing fleetwide new-vehicle fuel economy at 36 miles per gallon.