Trump administration challenges California's emission standards
The administration of President Donald Trump has targeted California's regulations on emissions. The head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Lee Zeldin, announced that he would submit the decisions on California's special privileges in emission standards to Congress for review.
Car manufacturers, dealers, and fuel producers are concerned about the law in California. They consider the local standards on car sales to be unattainable. The regulations stipulate, among other things, that from 2026, at least 35 per cent of vehicles sold in the state must be zero-emission cars.
California "bans" combustion-engine cars
The dispute concerns three EPA decisions issued during Joe Biden's presidency, which allowed California to implement its own, stricter emission standards. This applies to both passenger cars and commercial vehicles. The Clean Cars II programme 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 to be reduced by more than half. These regulations are also enforced in other states that have chosen to adopt California's standards, which together account for about 30 per cent of the US automotive market.
Trump aims to reverse Biden's decisions
However, President Donald Trump's administration seeks to alter the current regulations. Special privileges regarding emission standards are to be transferred to Congress, removing them from the state.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) emphasises in a statement that the practice of issuing special permits for the state has been in place for 50 years, under both Republican and Democratic administrations.
