Latest News

The US House of Representatives votes to ban California's 2035 electric vehicle plan

The U.S House of Representatives has voted to block California's historic plan to stop the sale of only gasoline vehicles by 2035, which was adopted by 11 states.

The House has backed legislation that will repeal the waiver granted by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, under the former president Joe Biden, in December. This waiver allowed California to mandate 80% electric cars by 2035. Major automakers urged this action because the rules were not feasible. California claims the rules are necessary to reduce pollution, and that the vote was illegal.

California Governor Gavin Newsom stated that the program is crucial to compete with China in EVs. Newsom stated that "big polluters and right-wing propaganda machines have been successful in buying off Republican Party."

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation (which represents General Motors Toyota Volkswagen Hyundai, and other major automakers) warned that car companies may be forced to "substantially reduce the number overall of vehicles for sale in order to increase their percentage of electric vehicle sales."

John Bozzella, the CEO of the group, called the vote "welcome and targeted" by the House in order to avoid the inevitable job losses and manufacturing problems that would result from these unachievable rules.

Another 11 states have adopted the California Air Resources Board regulations, including New York and Massachusetts, which account for approximately 40% of the U.S. automobile market.

Separately, the U.S. House voted on Wednesday to revoke the EPA’s approval in 2023 of California’s plans to demand a growing number of zero emission heavy-duty trucks. The waiver granted under former president Biden to California’s “Omnibus” low-NOx regulations for heavy-duty highway vehicles and off-road engines was also revoked.

The question is whether Congress can revoke waivers by using the Congressional Review Act. In March, the

The Government Accountability Office has said that waivers are not possible.

The CRA allows for repeal of this law with only a majority vote in the U.S. Senate.

California's rule requires 35% of the light-duty vehicles for 2026 to be zero emission models. Automakers claim that they cannot meet this figure, given the current EV sales in states that have adopted these rules. California has set a target of 68% EV sales in new vehicles by 2030.

Separately, the U.S. Transportation Department has taken steps to reverse aggressive fuel efficiency rules that Biden had adopted. (Reporting and editing by David Shepardson)

(source: Reuters)