Until recently, it seemed like a small annoyance most drivers quietly tolerated inside their cars. You pull up to a red light — and suddenly the vehicle “dies.” The engine falls silent, the steering feels slightly heavier, and the seconds before the green light seem to stretch endlessly. For some, it’s a smart fuel-saving innovation. For others, it’s a daily irritation.
The technology was rolled out over the years under the banner of environmental protection and improved fuel efficiency. It quickly became standard in new models, with manufacturers proudly reporting lower emissions and compliance with increasingly strict regulations. Yet behind the scenes, dissatisfaction was growing: customers weren’t impressed, dealers were fielding complaints, and servicing the system often cost more than the glossy brochures suggested.
Frustration kept building. Some experts argued the real-world environmental impact was modest, while others pointed to hidden costs for consumers. Independent testing showed fuel consumption improvements ranging from modest gains to more significant percentages — but in everyday city traffic, the benefits often fell short of laboratory results. Meanwhile, many drivers developed a habit of manually switching the feature off every time they started their engines.
Now, a dramatic move in the United States could reshape the future of this technology. The administration of Donald Trump has announced the removal of so-called “off-cycle credits” for automakers linked to the start-stop system — the very feature that automatically shuts off a car’s engine when it comes to a stop. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the decision forms part of one of the largest deregulatory actions in recent years.
President Trump described previous environmental policies as “disastrous” for the American auto industry, arguing they drove up the price of new vehicles and limited consumer choice. The White House insists that easing emissions standards could lower the average cost of a new car by more than $2,400, making vehicles more accessible to millions of families.
Critics, however, were quick to respond. Representatives of the Democratic Party warned that rolling back environmental standards would weaken efforts to combat climate change and could carry long-term public health consequences. Former President Barack Obama said such changes would make the country “less safe and less prepared for climate challenges.”
The decision may not affect only the US market. If global carmakers adjust manufacturing standards to align with the new US rules, the ripple effects could extend to other regions, including Australia and Europe. While some celebrate the potential disappearance of what many call the “world’s most hated” car feature, others caution that the true cost of this shift may prove far greater than it first appears.
