President Donald Trump is expected to sign three resolutions of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act, targeting California’s electric vehicle (EV) sales mandates and heavy-duty vehicle emissions rules, according to a White House official. The measures aim to block California’s plan to phase out gasoline-only passenger car sales by 2035—a policy also adopted by 11 other states representing roughly one-third of the U.S. auto market.
One resolution would revoke an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) waiver granted in December, allowing California to require that at least 80% of new car sales be zero-emission vehicles by 2035, with the remaining 20% allowed as plug-in hybrids. A second resolution seeks to overturn the EPA’s 2023 approval of California’s mandate for a rising percentage of zero-emission heavy-duty trucks. The third resolution would rescind California’s low-NOx (nitrogen oxide) regulation for heavy-duty highway and off-road vehicles and engines.
Automakers such as General Motors and Toyota, along with auto dealers, have lobbied against California’s rules, arguing the sales targets are unachievable and misaligned with market demand. GM noted the repeals would better align emissions standards with current market realities. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, representing several automakers, has said compliance credit costs would divert capital from broader EV investment. Its CEO, John Bozzella, remarked, “In reality, meeting the mandates would require diverting finite capital from the EV transition to purchase compliance credits from Tesla.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom plans to challenge the repeals in court, describing the action as illegal and warning it could add an estimated $45 billion in healthcare costs for the state. Since 1970, California has received over 100 Clean Air Act waivers, reflecting its longstanding role in setting stringent vehicle emission standards.
Source: Reuters
