GM withdraws support for Trump lawsuit to roll back auto emissions rules



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California has, for decades, obtained repeated waivers by the federal government, allowing it to establish its own rules on air quality and automobile emissions, which have generally been stricter than federal rules. Several other states – the so-called “States of California” – have followed these rules for years, and automakers adhere to these standards. But the Trump administration, which wanted to drastically reduce federal fuel economy and emissions standards, announced in 2019 that it was revoking California’s alleged waiver.
California and other states have taken legal action to prevent this from happening. Meanwhile, Ford (F), BMW, Honda (HMC) and Volkswagen (VLKAF) has reached an agreement with California, agreeing to have a fleet of vehicles with an average capacity of 50 miles per gallon and thereby reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2026. The companies have pledged to comply this national standardnot just in California.
But GM (GM) and other automakers, including Toyota (TM) and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCAU), joined with the Trump administration in supporting a single and inferior national standard. Automakers have said they are concerned about having two separate sets of fuel economy and emissions standards, one for California and the 14 other states that have followed – or plan to follow – the standards. State and another for the rest of the country.

With a new administration coming in January, however, GM has decided to step down. fight.

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“We are confident that the Biden administration in California and the US auto industry, which supports 10.3 million jobs, can collaboratively find the path that will deliver a fully electric future,” GM wrote in a letter. signed by CEO Mary Barra. “To better foster the necessary dialogue, we are immediately withdrawing from the pre-emption litigation and invite other automakers to join us.”

GM’s support for the lawsuit was not about supporting the administration’s desire to roll back fuel economy standards, GM spokeswoman Jeannine Ginivan said.

“Our decision to intervene in the litigation was not to side with Trump,” she wrote in an email. “The decision was in line with our desire for a national standard, which we still support.”

By initially joining the litigation, GM had hoped that it could be involved in negotiations for a possible settlement between the two parties, she said.

“By withdrawing from the litigation, we hope it can better foster the necessary dialogue and we believe the ambitious electrification targets of the president-elect of California and General Motors are aligned with the fight against climate change by drastically reducing emissions.” automobiles, ā€¯Ginivan wrote.

Responding to GM’s announcement, Environmental Protection Agency spokesman James Hewitt said: “It is always interesting to see the changing positions of US companies.”

GM recently announced that it is increasing its commitment to building electric cars with the expectation that 40% of its sales in the United States will be electric by 2025. Earlier this year, the governor of California announced a plan to to ban the sale of internal combustion vehicles in the state. by 2035.

“We demand that Toyota and Fiat-Chrysler follow suit and pull out of the attack on the Trump administration,” said Katherine Garcia, deputy director of national strategies for the Sierra Club’s Clean Transport for All campaign.

A spokesperson for Toyota said the automaker is considering how to proceed.

“In the light of changing circumstances, we are assessing the situation, but remain committed to our goal of a coherent and unitary set of fuel economy standards applicable in all 50 states,” Toyota said in a statement sent by email.

Nissan and Fiat Chrysler did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Natural Resources Defense Council issued a statement supporting GM’s move while calling on the company to do more in the future.

“If GM is to keep its promise to be part of the solution to our climate crisis, it must support ambitious federal and state standards for clean cars,” the group said in a statement.

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