Big 3 reacts to Trump EPA emission standards rollback

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Current standards require that cars and light truck get more than 50 miles per gallon by 2025 - but now it looks like that's changing.

Rolling back greenhouse gas emissions standards- the Trump administration EPA announced Monday those currently in place for cars and light trucks for model years 2022 through 2025 - are too high.

So what does it all mean for the automakers - and the environment....

"Don't get hysterical - we aren't going back to 1970s kinds of fuel economy and emissions," said Michelle Krebs, Autotrader.

Krebs is an executive analyst with Autotrader, she says this comes as no surprise. But it's not yet known what the new rules will be or how the automakers will respond.

"My anticipation is that automakers are not going to change the direction they're heading in but veer from that course," said Krebs.

Ford Motor Co. issued a statement saying in part:

"We continue to support clean car standards through 2025 and we have not asked for a rollback..."

General Motors said: 

"Regardless of the standards, we remain committed to improving fuel economy, reducing emissions and an all-electric future..."

Fiat Chrysler referred media to the statement from the alliance of automobile manufacturers saying:

"This was the right decision and we support the administration for pursuing a single national program as it works to finalize future standards."

The auto industry has made amazing progress in improving fuel economy," Krebs said. "I think beyond what many of us thought and they thought and lower emissions with that."

All of the automakers approving of the efforts toward one national standard - right now California has a waiver to set higher standards than the federal government.

But Krebs says when it comes to setting standards - china might be in the driver's seat.

"The other big player in this is China -these are global automakers," Krebs said. "If you're a global player, you have to play in China - and China's setting the rules."