GM, Toyota, and Fiat Chrysler Back Trump on Weaker Auto Emissions Rule

The auto industry is divided on whether to back stronger emissions standard adopted by California and 13 other states. Three major automakers and three auto industry groups sided with Trump on Monday in a court battle over 'one national standard.'

5 minute read

November 3, 2019, 11:00 AM PST

By Irvin Dawid


Detroit, Michigan

Linda Parton / Shutterstock

"President Donald Trump has scored a key victory over California and Gov. Gavin Newsom in their increasingly nasty fight over climate change [corresponding post in Planetizen] and rules limiting greenhouse gas emissions from cars," report Dale Kasler and Michael Wilner for The Sacramento Bee

The Association of Global Automakers and the Coalition for Sustainable Automotive Regulation — a group including GM, Toyota, Mazda, Fiat Chrysler and Mitsubishi — split with four other automakers that had agreed to follow tougher rules enacted by California.

“The certainty of one national program [see final rule by EPA+NHTSA], with reasonable, achievable standards, is the surest way to reduce emissions in the timeliest manner,” John Bozzella, the head of the coalition, said in a statement. “With our industry facing the possibility of multiple, overlapping and inconsistent standards that drive up costs and penalize consumers, we had an obligation to intervene.”

"In their filing [pdf] with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia [on Oct. 28], the automakers and the National Automobile Dealers Association said they backed the administration bid to bar individual emissions rules by states," writes David Shepardson for Reuters (source article). "The decision to side with President Donald Trump could prompt a furious backlash from Democrats and environmentalists." 

Senator Tom Carper [of Delaware], the top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, had harsh words for the automakers.

“Instead of choosing the responsible path forged by four automakers and the state of California, one that will move us toward the cleaner, alternative fuel vehicles of the future, these companies have chosen to head down a dead-end road,” Carper said in a statement.

The Sierra Club reacted similarly. "Shame on these automakers who support the Trump Administration’s illegal and dangerous attack on state authority, clean air, and climate progress," stated Gina Coplon-Newfield, Director of the Sierra Club’s Clean Transportation for All campaign.“ 

Eight prominent environmental organizations, including the Environmental Defense Fund and the Sierra Club, and Public Citizen, filed suit [pdf] against Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao on Sept. 27 over the revocation of the Clean Air Act waiver allowing California to adopt stricter motor vehicle emissions standards. It is that lawsuit, Environmental Defense Fund, Petitioner, V. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Respondent [pdf] in which the Coalition for Sustainable Automotive Regulation and the Association of Global Automakers intervened rather than the 23-state lawsuit, led by California and 22 other states, the District of Columbia, and the cities of NY and LA, filed against the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Sept. 20. [See 'update' at the base of the post].

Toyota draws special attention

Tiffany Hsu of The New York Times writes about a possible backlash by California consumers against Toyota, long associated with being an environmentally-conscious company due to its Prius line of hybrid-electric and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles. In 2012, the Prius was the best-selling car in the Golden State.

Date to watch: November 24

On Sept. 19, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation announced the "Final Rule: One National Program on Federal Preemption of State Fuel Economy Standards:

This action finalizes critical parts of the Safer, Affordable, Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule that was first proposed in August 2018. This action makes clear that federal law preempts state and local tailpipe greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards as well as zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandates. 

The rule was published Sept. 27 in the Federal Register which indicates that the rule takes effect on November 24. As posted on Sept 21, "Did the Outlook for Electric Vehicle Sales in U.S. Just Nosedive?" this means that the California Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Program, and the ZEV programs in the ten Section 177 (of the Clean Air Act) States that have adopted the California ZEV standard: Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and most recently, Colorado, essentially become suspended as the requirements can no legally be enforced.

Los Angeles Times business columnist Michael Hiltzik penned two excellent columns on the auto industry intervention on behalf of the Trump administration:

Update: David Shepardson of Reuters reports on Oct. 31 that on late Thursday night, the same automakers "sought to intervene on the side of the Trump administration in two additional legal challenges to its efforts to bar California from setting tailpipe emissions standards."

Hat tip to Chris Gilbert.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019 in Reuters

View of small-town street with brick buildings and cars parked in diagonal parking with string lights going across street in Cleveland County, Oklahoma.

Norman, Oklahoma Eliminates Parking Mandates

The city made a subtle, one-word change that frees up developers to build parking based on actual need and eliminates costly unnecessary parking.

September 14, 2023 - Next City

Few passengers waiting in subway station with multiple platforms and "North Station" signs in Boston, Massachusetts

Boston Transit Riders Report Safety Concerns

Almost three-quarters of current and former riders report feeling unsafe while using MBTA services.

September 18, 2023 - Hoodline

View of Boston from Bunker Hill with statue in foreground

Boston to Begin Zoning Code Update, Mayor Announces

It’s been nearly 60 years, but the city of Boston is finally ready to do a comprehensive rewrite of its zoning code.

September 14, 2023 - The Boston Globe

Sidewalk in Seattle with yellow fall leaves on the ground and cars parked next to the curb.

Proposal Could Mandate Sidewalks as Part of Seattle Complete Streets

Almost a third of the city’s neighborhood streets lack sidewalks.

September 24 - The Urbanist

View of San Francisco neighborhood from top of hill with misty bay in background.

San Francisco Supervisors Punt Housing Ordinance

After hours of public comment, the zoning reform package aimed at increasing housing production and limiting red tape was delayed for further discussion.

September 24 - SF Standard

Woman wearing helmet riding POGOH bike share bike in bike lane in Pittsburgh, PA.

Pittsburgh Launches Adaptive Bike Share Fleet

The new bikes include a recumbent bicycle and a front-loading cargo bike.

September 24 - Pittsburgh Magazine