WASHINGTON - The federal government is delaying the release of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards until mid-November, citing the need for additional time.

"We have worked closely with all key stakeholders including the car companies, the State of California, and others as we move toward releasing the proposed rule. Given the historic nature of this joint rule between EPA and DOT, as well as the necessary coordination with California, it was recently determined that additional time was needed and we expect to issue a proposal for MY-2017-2025 vehicles by mid-November," the Environmental Protection Agency stated.

EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) intended to release full details of the proposed program and analyses by the end of September.

In late July, President Barack Obama announced an agreement with 13 automakers to increase CAFE standards to 54.5 miles per gallon for cars and light-duty trucks by MY-2025. The new program would increase the passenger car fuel-economy standard by 5 percent each year, from 2017 to 2025. The standard for pickup trucks and other light-duty trucks would increase by 3.5 percent per year for the first five years and 5 percent for the last four model-years.