NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The Department of Transportation announced the first increase in 25 years of the nation's fuel economy standards Friday.

Under the new rules, 2011 model year, cars will be required to get, on average, 30.2 miles per gallon and light trucks, such as pick-ups, SUVs and vans, will have to average 24.1 mpg.

The combined fleetwide goal for cars and trucks will be 27.3 mpg, a 2 mpg increase over the current standard of 25.3 mpg.

This represents the first step, under new fuel economy laws passed by Congress in late 2007, toward a 35 mpg average - including cars and trucks - by 2020.

The Department of Transportation estimates that the 2011 model fuel economy year requirements will save about 887 million gallons of fuel and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 8.3 million metric tons.