US: Szakaly: CAFE Targets Will Curb US Auto Sales Beyond 2018

The Truth About Cars  website reports NADA economist Steven Szakaly as saying that after 2018, as the focus moves to the post-2025 CAFE rules, consumers will become disinclined to buy new cars -

Unless gasoline prices rise significantly, or we see consumers
becoming irrational and everyone buying an electric car, it’s tough to
think of consumers willing to pay $3,000 to $7,000 more for the exact
same car, just because someone in Washington, D.C., or California says
they need to buy it.

So he told Automotive News's  2014 Management Briefing. There's a lot could change between now and then ... For one thing, US petrol prices could become aligned with Europe's.