*
Trump to sign resolutions against California's EV
mandates,
sources say
*
California's EV rules face legal challenge from Governor
Newsom
*
Auto industry supports repeal, citing unachievable EV
sales
mandates
(Updates with White House official confirming, adds quote from
Petroleum Institute president in paragraph 6)
By David Shepardson and Steve Holland
June 10 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will
sign three congressional resolutions on Thursday barring
California's electric vehicle sales mandates and diesel engine
rules, a White House official said, confirming an earlier
Reuters report citing auto industry sources and House aides.
Trump is signing resolutions of disapproval under the
Congressional Review Act to bar California's landmark plan to
end the sale of gasoline-only vehicles by 2035, which has been
adopted by 11 other states and representing a third of the U.S.
auto market.
Trump will sign one resolution to repeal a waiver granted by
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under former Democratic
President Joe Biden in December, allowing California to mandate
that at least 80% of vehicles be electric vehicles by 2035.
The White House invited numerous auto industry officials to
attend the signing on Thursday, sources said.
Trump will also sign a resolution approved by Congress to
rescind the EPA's 2023 approval of California's plans to require
a rising number of zero-emission heavy-duty trucks, and another
resolution on California's low-NOx, or low-nitrogen oxide,
regulation for heavy-duty highway and off-road vehicles and
engines.
"Today's historic bill signing is a major victory for
American consumers, manufacturers and U.S. energy security. We
thank President Trump and Congress for delivering on their
promise to put an end to these extreme mandates and ensure every
American can choose the vehicle that's best for them," American
Petroleum Institute President and CEO Mike Sommers said.
The signing is a win for General Motors ( GM ), Toyota ( TM )
, auto dealers and other automakers that heavily lobbied
against the rules, and a blow to California and environmental
groups that say the requirements are essential to ensuring
cleaner vehicles and cutting pollution.
GM said the move would help align emissions standards with
market realities.
California announced a plan in 2020 to require that by 2035
at least 80% of new cars sold be electric and up to 20% plug-in
hybrid models.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has vowed to challenge the
repeals in court, saying the action by Congress is illegal and
would cost California taxpayers an estimated $45 billion in
additional health care costs.
Since 1970, California has received more than 100 waivers
under the Clean Air Act.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, representing GM,
Toyota ( TM ), Volkswagen Hyundai Stellantis
and others, previously praised the repeal.
"The fact is these EV sales mandates were never achievable,"
the group's CEO, John Bozzella, said. "In reality, meeting the
mandates would require diverting finite capital from the EV
transition to purchase compliance credits from Tesla."
These are the latest actions in recent months taking aim at
electric vehicles.
A separate bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives
in May would end a $7,500 tax credit for new EVs, impose a new
$250 annual fee on EVs for road repair costs and repeal vehicle
emissions rules designed to prod automakers into building more
EVs. It would also phase out EV battery production tax credits
in 2028.