Trump targets California's vehicle emission independence
The administration under President Donald Trump has taken steps aimed at California's emission regulations. The head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Lee Zeldin, announced that he would submit the decisions regarding special privileges for California in emission standards to Congress for review.
Car manufacturers, dealers, and fuel producers have expressed concerns about the law in California. They consider the local standards on car sales to be unachievable. The regulations stipulate, among other things, that by 2026, at least 35% of vehicles sold in the state must be zero-emission cars.
California "bans" combustion-engine cars
The dispute involves three EPA decisions made during Joe Biden's presidency, which allowed California to adopt its own, stricter emission standards. This pertains to both passenger and commercial vehicles. The Clean Cars II program envisions a complete ban on the sale of conventional combustion-engine cars in California by 2035.
California's regulations are designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. According to the plans, by 2040, emissions from light vehicles in the state are expected to be cut by over half. These regulations are also enforced in other states that have opted to adopt California's standards, collectively accounting for about 30% of the U.S. automotive market.
Trump aims to reverse Biden's decisions
However, President Donald Trump's administration seeks to alter the current regulations. The special privileges concerning emission standards are to be transferred to Congress, removing them from state control.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) emphasizes in a statement that the practice of issuing special permits for the state has been a 50-year tradition under both Republican and Democratic administrations.
