It’s a landmark day for the auto industry in California. Stellantis, one of the largest automakers on the planet, has pledged to align with California’s stringent vehicle emissions standards. The Golden State’s regulations are the toughest in the U.S., requiring 68% of new light-duty vehicle sales to be zero-emission or plug-in hybrid vehicles by 2030.
A Win for Climate Action
This move by the maker of Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep vehicles is a significant boost for the climate policies of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. Notably, the Biden administration restored California’s power to set its own tailpipe pollution standards in 2022. This decision followed former President Donald Trump’s revocation of California’s authority to set its own auto emission limits, a reversal of one of Trump’s most notorious actions to roll back environmental laws seen as burdensome for businesses.
Stellantis now joins the likes of Ford, Honda, Volkswagen, and BMW, who pledged to follow California’s rules in 2019. The Trump administration initially launched an antitrust investigation against these companies, but it was eventually closed due to a lack of evidence of any wrongdoing.
In a statement, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares lauded the agreement as a “win-win solution that is good for the customer and good for the planet”.
Impressive Emissions Reduction
According to a statement from Newsom’s office, Stellantis’ commitment will prevent up to 12 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions through 2026. This is equivalent to emissions from over 2.3 million vehicles annually. That’s quite an impressive figure!
Moreover, Stellantis has pledged to spend $4 million on installing electric vehicle chargers in parks and rural areas in California. An additional $6 million will be spent on charging infrastructure in other states that opt to adopt California’s rules. “We are all in — enthusiastically committed to this transition,” Newsom proclaimed, emphasizing the potential for job creation, economic growth, and dominance in the burgeoning sector of electric vehicles.
California’s Unique Authority
Since the 1970s, California has been given a unique privilege by the federal government: the authority to set its own pollution rules for cars and trucks. Given that California has the highest number of cars on the road and struggles to meet air quality standards, these rules are tougher than the federal standards.
California has been proactive in its attempts to eliminate pollution from gas-powered cars and trucks. However, the Biden administration has not yet given the state the authority to enforce its ban on the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035. Despite the potential legal hurdles, some automakers have voluntarily committed to following California’s new rules.
Liane Randolph, Chair of the California Air Resources Board, believes the agreements between the state and automakers to cut emissions will facilitate the auto industry’s transition away from gas-powered vehicles. “This really allows for industry to have certainty in how they are going to work with government to achieve that zero-emission future,” she explained.
As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of climate change, it’s initiatives like these that offer hope for a greener future. According to IPCC, the transportation sector contributes 14% of the global greenhouse gas emissions, with road vehicles accounting for nearly three-quarters of these emissions. Therefore, any strides towards cleaner, greener vehicles are a step in the right direction.
