California stated on Monday it will stop all purchases of new vehicles for state government fleets from General Motors, Toyota, Fiat Chrysler and other automakers supporting U.S. President Donald Trump in a fight to strip the state of authority to regulate tailpipe emissions.
Between 2016 and 2018, California bought $58.6 million in vehicles from General Motors, $55.8 million from Fiat Chrysler, $10.6 million from Toyota Motor and $9 million from Nissan Motor.
In the previous month, General Motors, Toyota, Fiat Chrysler and members of the Global Automakers trade association supported the Trump administration’s effort to block California from setting its own emission standards, which are significantly stricter compared to the Trump Administration proposal’s preferred option.
GM spokeswoman Jeannine Ginivan stated it was unfortunate that California will stop purchasing its electric Bolt.
“Removing vehicles like the Chevy Bolt and banning GM and other manufacturers from consideration will decrease California’s choices for affordable, American-made electric vehicles and limit its ability to reach its goal of reducing the state government’s carbon footprint, a goal that GM shares.”
From January, the state will only purchase from automakers that recognize California’s legal authority to set emissions standards. They consists of Ford Motor, Honda Motor, BMW and Volkswagen, which struck a deal with California in July to abide by revised state vehicle emissions standards.
In August, the Justice Department started an antitrust investigation into the deal and last month sent subpoenas to the four firms.
“Automakers that have chosen to be on the wrong side of history will be on the losing end of California’s buying power,” California Governor Gavin Newsom stated.
California bought $69.2 million in vehicles from Ford over the three-year-period, $565,000 from Honda and none from the Germany-based automakers.
The state also revealed it will immediately no longer permit state agencies to purchase gasoline-powered sedans, with exemptions for certain public safety vehicles.
California’s vehicle regulations have been embraced by 13 other states.
California and 22 other U.S. states have contended the Trump administration’s decision to revoke California’s legal authority to set vehicle tailpipe emissions rules and require an increasing number of zero emission vehicles (ZEV).
