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U.S. auto giant General Motors withdraws support for the Trump administration’s legal battle with California over who has the right to set car emissions standards.
General Motors Co. will withdraw from the legal battle between the Trump administration and California officials over the state’s authority to set car emissions rules, a major shift in the controversial struggle that has fractured the industry.
The decision is a significant reversal by the largest US automaker after supporting the Trump administration’s legal defense of a 2019 federal rule that revokes California’s authority to set stricter greenhouse gas requirements than the federal government. GM CEO Mary Barra said in a letter to environmental groups Monday that the company’s goal of accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles is in line with President-elect Joe Biden’s support for cleaner cars.
“We believe the ambitious electrification goals of the President-elect, California, and General Motors are aligned to address climate change by dramatically reducing automobile emissions,” Barra said in the letter. “To better promote the necessary dialogue, we immediately withdraw from the preventive dispute and invite other car manufacturers to join us.”
GM’s move reflects change in Washington, with the upcoming Biden administration expected to reinstate California’s renunciation and strengthen car emissions standards after they were largely dismantled under President Donald Trump. Biden vowed to develop “stringent new fuel economy standards to ensure that 100% of new light and medium vehicle sales will be electrified.”
In September 2019, California challenged Trump’s Department of Transportation claim that its authority to set fuel economy standards precludes the state’s ability to dictate its own stricter requirements. Environmental groups have joined the legal battle.
GM along with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, Toyota Motor Corp. and other automakers had previously backed the Trump administration’s decision to revoke California’s ability to set stricter greenhouse gas regulations than the federal government, a key part of the government’s move. White House to dramatically undermine the Obama administration’s ambitious fuel efficiency rules.
Their stance contrasted with Ford Motor Co., Honda Motor Co., Volkswagen AG, and BMW AG, who agreed with California officials to voluntarily override weakened federal rules, thwart Trump’s plan and break with GM and other competitors who they sided with the administration.
Toyota said in a statement Monday that the company has “long advocated year-over-year improvements in fuel economy standards” that provide benefits for climate and national energy security, but supported the Trump administration’s plan “knowing that there was a preponderance of other automakers “lined up.
“Given the changing circumstances, we are assessing the situation, but remain committed to our goal of a consistent and unified set of fuel economy standards applicable across all 50 states,” the company said.
The move drew applause from environmental advocates. Dan Becker, director of the Safe Climate Transport Campaign which advocates cleaner transportation policies, said GM was wrong in trying to “prevent California from protecting its people from tailpipe pollution.”
“Now the other automakers must follow GM and withdraw support for Trump’s attack on clean cars,” Becker said via email.
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