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Daimler Volvo and other truck manufacturers sue California for blocking emissions regulations

Four major truckmakers including Daimler, Volvo and others sued California in order to prevent the state from enforcing the strict emission standards that U.S. president Donald Trump declared null in June.

Daimler Volvo Paccar and International Motors, formerly Navistar said that they were "caught in crossfire" when Trump revoked waivers granted during the Biden Administration which allowed California to set its own standards.

In a Monday complaint, truckmakers claimed that Trump's decision to revoke the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's approval of California’s plan to increase zero-emissions heavy-duty trucks sales and reduce nitrogen dioxide emissions preempted state enforcement. The truckmakers said that this included enforcing Clean Truck Partnership 2023, a program which gives the truckmaking industry the flexibility to meet emission requirements while advancing California’s goal of reducing emissions.

Truckmakers say the regulatory uncertainty is irreparable because they can't plan their production without knowing what vehicles they are allowed to sell.

The complaint, filed Monday in Sacramento's federal court, names both the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom among the defendants.

The board and Newsom's Office did not respond to comments on Tuesday.

Trump's actions were part of Republicans' efforts to limit California's ability to set stricter pollution limits under federal law than required by federal law, and Newsom’s desire to promote electrical vehicles in his fight against climate change.

Since 1970, California has been granted more than 100 waivers of the Clean Air Act.

Trump blocked California's efforts to stop the sale of gasoline-only cars by 2035 when he signed joint congressional resolutions in June. State officials are also suing Trump to reverse his actions.

Daimler Truck North America LLC, et. al. v. California Air Resources Board, et. al., U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. 25-02255. Reporting by Jonathan Stempel, New York Editing Rod Nickel

(source: Reuters)