To amend the automobile fuel economy provisions of title 49, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to set fuel economy standards for passenger automobiles based on one or more vehicle attributes.

H.R. 5359 proposes a change to how the federal government sets Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for passenger cars. The bill would allow the Secretary of Transportation to set fuel economy requirements based on specific vehicle attributes, such as size or weight, rather than applying a single uniform standard to an entire fleet. Additionally, it would grant the Department of Transportation greater authority to increase these standards without requiring a specific act of Congress.

For everyday citizens, this bill could lead to more varied fuel efficiency requirements across different types of cars, potentially influencing the design and availability of various vehicle models. By allowing standards to be adjusted based on vehicle size, the bill aims to provide manufacturers with more flexibility while still pursuing overall increases in national fuel economy. The legislation also mandates a study to determine how separating domestic and foreign car calculations affects the automotive market and fuel consumption.