WASHINGTON, May 20 (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co ( F ) said

on Monday it backs the Biden administration's moves to

dramatically cut vehicle emissions through 2032, rejecting

Republican arguments the new climate rules are bad for business.

The second largest U.S. automaker said it supports the

Environmental Protection Agency's regulations announced in March

to cut passenger vehicle fleetwide tailpipe emissions by nearly

50% by 2032 over 2027 levels.

"Complying with emissions regulations requires lengthy

advance planning, and Ford has taken steps to transform its

business to ensure compliance with stricter emissions

standards," the Dearborn-based automaker said.

It said it welcomed the regulatory stability that the

Multi-Pollutant Rule will provide, preventing the "possibility

of flip-flopping or changing standards."

Former President Donald Trump, who is seeking a return to

the White House, has vowed to reverse the Biden rules that would

boost electric vehicles.

Earlier, a trade group representing General Motors ( GM ),

Toyota Motor ( TM ), Volkswagen, Ford and nearly

all other major automakers on Monday said it supported two key

aspects of the rule.

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation filed in support of

the EPA in including electric vehicles in fleetwide averaging of

emissions and excluding upstream emissions from compliance

calculations, but did not weigh in on the entire rule or the

legality of the standards.

Last month, 25 Republican-led states sued the EPA arguing

the new regulations saying they are unlawful and unworkable.

The auto alliance, which also includes Stellantis ( STLA )

, Honda Motor ( HMC ) and Hyundai Motor ( HYMTF ),

said the two key provisions it is backing "are essential if

vehicle manufacturers are to have any possibility of

demonstrating compliance with the GHG reduction targets."

Republican state officials argue the administration

wants to transform the American passenger vehicle market through

strict rules and force automakers to shift production to EVs.

A group of 22 states led by California back the EPA's

tailpipe emissions, saying they could be harmed if the EPA did

not require future reductions in harmful vehicle emissions.

The regulations are among the most significant environmental

rules implemented under President Joe Biden, who has made

tackling climate change a pillar of his presidency. The EPA has

forecast that between 35% and 56% of new vehicles sold between

2030 and 2032 would be electric.

The EPA said the final rules announced in March will cut

emissions by 49% by 2032 over 2026 levels compared with 56%

under its previous plan. EPA chief Michael Regan said the rule

imposed no mandate on manufacturers to adopt electric vehicles.