America's love affair with gas-guzzling vehicles could soon be over as the US plans to introduce its first nationwide standards on emissions and tougher fuel efficiency targets.

President Obama is expected today to unveil sweeping new regulations requiring new cars and trucks to emit 30 per cent less greenhouse gas and to average 35.5 miles to the gallon by the year 2016. The announcement will be made at a meeting in the White House Rose Garden attended by all the main car manufacturers.

Officials say that the proposals are the equivalent of taking 177 million cars off the road. They are expected to save around 1.8 billion barrels of oil and prevent about 900 million metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions – the equivalent of 194 coal-fired power stations.

The regulations are also expected to cost American drivers an extra $1,300 (£840) per vehicle.

Today's announcement will be a powerful signal of Mr Obama's intent to take action against climate change, even if it means consumers paying more – something that his predecessor strongly resisted.

New vehicles at present average 25mpg, with most cars required to reach 27.5mpg and light trucks 23.1mpg. New Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) rules passed by Congress are already expected to add an extra $700 to the price of a new vehicle, and today's announcement will add about another $600.

Officials say that in the long run drivers will recoup the cost because they will be using less fuel.

About a quarter of American states, led by California and including the District of Columbia and 13 other states, have been pressing the federal government for years for permission to introduce emissions targets on vehicles.

Carmakers, already struggling in the recession, have been resisting the pressure, claiming that it would be too expensive and confusing to conform to a patchwork of different green standards across the US.

The new regulations are said to have the backing of the car manufacturers, because they impose a single nationwide standard.

"Energy security and climate change are national priorities that require federal leadership, and the President's direction makes sense for the country and the industry," Fritz Henderson, the chief executive officer of General Motors, said.

Chrysler said that it would now be able to concentrate its resources on developing a nationwide fleet of clean, fuel-efficient vehicles.

However, the regulations will mean that manufacturers will have to speed up their timetable for producing more fuel-efficient vehicles. Most cars will be expected to achieve 39mpg and light trucks 30mpg by 2016 – four years earlier than under the CAFE rules.

Cash-strapped states such as California, which has been teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, will also benefit because the federal government will bear the expense of drawing up standards and an enforcement plan.

California has already introduced stringent emissions standards, leading to a legal battle with the car industry. Today's announcement should enable it to draw a line under the litigation.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Governor of California, who has pushed for reform, is due to attend today's announcement in the Rose Garden.

In an unusual display of unanimity, environmental campaigners are also said to welcome the proposals.

Today's announcement comes as Congress starts debating a 932-page climate change Bill, backed by Mr Obama and the Democrats, aimed at cutting carbon dioxide emissions. At the heart of the bill is a "cap and trade" scheme aimed at gradually reducing the amount of greenhouse gases that power companies, steelmakers, oil refineries and other heavy industry are allowed to emit.

Republicans oppose the measure, saying it will be too expensive.

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