A group of 11 states, led by California, has filed a lawsuit against the recent repeal of the state’s electric vehicle rules and heavy-duty truck requirements. This legal action comes after President Donald Trump signed resolutions that block California’s ambitious plan to end the sale of gasoline-only vehicles by 2035.
On the day of the announcement, Trump declared that he was protecting the U.S. auto industry by terminating California’s electric vehicle mandates. In response, California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized Trump’s actions, claiming they threaten clean air and harm the country’s global competitiveness.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Northern California, seeks to declare that Trump’s repeal of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) waivers, which were granted under President Joe Biden, should not affect California’s emissions rules. The states argue that the federal government acted unlawfully in trying to dismantle California’s regulations.
Joining California in the lawsuit are New York, New Jersey, Colorado, Massachusetts, and Washington state. The defendants include Trump, the EPA, and its Administrator, Lee Zeldin. The plaintiffs argue that the federal government’s actions were part of a strategy to undermine California laws that promote clean air.
In March, the Government Accountability Office stated that the waivers could not be repealed under the Congressional Review Act, a point that Senate Republicans ignored while moving forward with the repeal.
Under Biden’s waiver, California was set to require that at least 80% of new vehicles sold in the state be electric by 2035, with the rest being plug-in hybrids. Trump’s resolutions also rescinded California’s plans for zero-emission heavy-duty trucks and regulations on nitrogen oxide emissions for heavy-duty vehicles.
The lawsuit claims that important regulations aimed at reducing emissions from gasoline and diesel vehicles were also targeted in this repeal. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents major automakers, supported Trump’s actions, arguing that the electric vehicle rules were unrealistic and would hurt consumers by limiting choices and increasing costs.
Experts have noted that this repeal could diminish the value of Tesla’s emissions credits, which are crucial for the company’s business model. The EPA has dismissed the lawsuit, calling it an overreaction from California because the public does not support the state’s policies.
Additionally, a separate bill passed in the U.S. House could remove the $7,500 tax credit for new electric vehicles and impose fees on EVs for road repairs, signaling a broader shift in federal policy regarding electric vehicles.
As the legal battle unfolds, it remains to be seen how these developments will impact California’s ambitious environmental goals and the future of electric vehicle sales in the United States.