California reaches deal with 4 automakers over emissions standards

[essentialsaltes]

Four major automakers have reached a deal with California air regulators to gradually increase fuel efficiency standards, rebuffing the Trump administration’s efforts to relax tailpipe pollution regulations.

The agreement between the California Air Resources Board and the automakers — Ford, Honda, Volkswagen and BMW — means that car manufacturers will have to achieve yearly improvements in greenhouse gas emissions and fuel efficiency.

Earlier this month, California forged an agreement with nearly two dozen governors, including some Republicans, urging the Trump administration to embrace more aggressive standards and preserve a single, nationwide set of rules. The coalition represents more than 50% of the U.S. auto market.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Feds Launch Antitrust Investigation Into Four Car Companies That Sided With California: Report

The fight over cleaning up the nation’s fuel economy standards just got a whole lot dirtier.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the Justice Department has launched a preliminary antitrust probe into whether the four automakers that reached an independent agreement with the California Air Resources Board, an agreement which defied the Trump administration’s attempts to freeze fuel economy standards until 2026, violated antitrust law with cartel-like behavior.

A source involved with the investigation speaking to the Journal claim the Justice Department undertook this effort independently of the Trump administration. But this assertion that strains credulity considering the report from yesterday about the Trump administration’s direct efforts to undermine CARB and their agreement with the automakers.

This is pretty absurd. Next stop, all government vehicles must roll coal.

 

[essentialsaltes]

The Trump administration plans this week to revoke California’s long-standing right to set stricter air pollution standards for cars and light trucks,

Already, 13 states and the District of Columbia have vowed to adopt California’s standards if they diverge from the federal government’s, as have several major automakers. California leaders on Tuesday said they will fight any challenge to their autonomy.

A Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation poll released Friday found 66 percent of Americans oppose Trump’s plan to freeze fuel efficiency standards

A nearly identical 67 percent majority says they support state governments setting stricter fuel efficiency targets than the federal government.

By seeking to strip California of its autonomy, Trump officials are forcing auto companies to choose whether they will side with the state or with the federal government. As part of July’s deal with the California Air Resources Board, the four carmakers agreed to support the state’s right to set its own tailpipe standards.

California’s long-standing ability to write its own emissions standards has seldom been questioned in Washington. In part, that’s because of the history that led to the state’s unique authority.

Smog in Los Angeles had become crippling at times throughout the 1950s and into the 1960s. As scientists focused on motor vehicle exhaust as a key culprit, state officials worked to develop the nation’s first vehicle emissions standards in 1966.

The following year, the state’s new Republican governor, Ronald Reagan, established the California Air Resources Board to undertake a statewide effort to address widespread air pollution.

Over time, emissions control strategies first adopted by California — catalytic converters, regulations on oxides of nitrogen, and “check engine” systems, to name a few — have become standard across the country.

Trump: Spitting on state's rights and Reagan's legacy.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

President Trump is the President of all 50 States. It is time California gets back in line and Trump is the Leader who will do it.

 

[essentialsaltes]

President Trump is the President of all 50 States. It is time California gets back in line and Trump is the Leader who will do it.

I saw Trump fly into LAX yesterday. Three Ospreys followed by the two Marine One helicopters.

They fly two Marine Ones because one of them has a fake president on it, while the other one is a decoy.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

President Trump had to go to California in order to save what is left of the State from being destroyed by mismanagement form the so called elected officials. Hopefully he puts a Governor in office that follows the Trump line, which by default is the American line. Enough of the socialism and homelessness and sanctuary cities where illegals are free and welcome to commit murder and get away with it.

 

[essentialsaltes]

President Trump had to go to California in order to save what is left of the State...

He ordered the homeless to rake leaves to save us from forest fires.

 

[Tinker Grey]

Weren't Republicans supposed to be big on states' rights?

 

[Aryeh Jay]

He ordered the homeless to rake leaves to save us from forest fires.

California chose to plant eucalyptus trees everywhere, a tree known for bursting into flames due to the large amounts of oil. This is what President Trump is trying to save California from themselves.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

Weren't Republicans supposed to be big on states' rights?

Unless they go against the will of the elected Leader.

 

[Tinker Grey]

Unless they go against the will of the elected Leader.

Elected leaders are not kings. They don't get to dictate their will.

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

Weren't Republicans supposed to be big on states' rights?

No, only when it helps them. They want total control of our ovaries, sex lives . And they are okay with destroying the planet.

 

[Nithavela]

Weren't Republicans supposed to be big on states' rights?

Both parties are big on states rights provided they don't hold the senate.

 

[KCfromNC]

Weren't Republicans supposed to be big on states' rights?

Almost as if that were a smokescreen covering for something else entirely.

 

[FireDragon76]

Elected leaders are not kings. They don't get to dictate their will.

Especially not in a federal system.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Major automakers are siding with the Trump administration in its bid to bar California from setting its own fuel efficiency rules or zero-emission requirements for vehicles, the companies said in a filing with a U.S. appeals court late on Monday.

The move by firms including General Motors Co (GM.N), Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T), Hyundai Motor Co (005380.KS), and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (FCHA.MI), follows legal challenges by California and 22 states and environmental groups in September.

The group backing Trump also includes Mazda (7261.T), Nissan Motor Co (7201.T), Kia Motors Corp (000270.KS) and Subaru Co (9778.T).

----------------------------------------------

Other automakers, such as Ford Motor Co (F.N), Honda Motor Co (7267.T) and Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE), which announced a voluntary deal with California in July on emissions rules, are not joining the bid to intervene on the administration’s side.

 

[mala]

I saw Trump fly into LAX yesterday. Three Ospreys followed by the two Marine One helicopters.

They fly two Marine Ones because one of them has a fake president on it, while the other one is a decoy.

at this point a cardboard cutout standee would be a better president. at least it would have a spine.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Feds Launch Antitrust Investigation Into Four Car Companies That Sided With California: Report

The fight over cleaning up the nation’s fuel economy standards just got a whole lot dirtier.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the Justice Department has launched a preliminary antitrust probe into whether the four automakers that reached an independent agreement with the California Air Resources Board, an agreement which defied the Trump administration’s attempts to freeze fuel economy standards until 2026, violated antitrust law with cartel-like behavior.

Whoops!

The inquiry was set in motion a few months later. But the Times reported, "On Friday, Justice Department lawyers told automakers that they had concluded that they had not broken any rules or laws in their dealings with California, according to people familiar with the matter."

 

[keith99]

California chose to plant eucalyptus trees everywhere, a tree known for bursting into flames due to the large amounts of oil. This is what President Trump is trying to save California from themselves.

Not California, growers, particularly orange and walnut. The eucalyptus trees planted were windbreaks and as such cannot support forest fires.

Nice Trumpian try though.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

Not California, growers, particularly orange and walnut. The eucalyptus trees planted were windbreaks and as such cannot support forest fires.

Nice Trumpian try though.

After 1991 fire, Oaklanders debate growth of Eucalyptus – Oakland North

East Bay Environmentalists at Odds Over Future of Eucalyptus Trees | East Bay Express

25 years later: Oakland hills ripe for another firestorm