General Motors chairman and CEO Mary Barra met on Tuesday with U.S. regulative chiefs, weeks before the Trump administration prepares to decide whether to modify landmark fuel effectiveness requirements through 2025.
After Reuters found out about the meetings, GM representative Pat Morrissey confirmed Barra had met the heads of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Transportation Department.
During the meeting, the GM CEO “reconfirmed our priorities for modernizing fuel economy standards, which is the requirement for one national set of requirements and the have to comprehend new technology advancements like increased shared and autonomous electric vehicles,” Morrissey stated.
Automakers are urging the administration to reach agreement with California to preserve a nationwide set of fuel efficiency requirements.
California Air Resources Board chair Mary Nichols stated in January the board does not think the standards need to be decreased, however, is willing talk about modifications if required. “Absent any such evidence, we will certainly resist any changes,” Nichols stated.
Automobile companies wish to prevent a potential legal battle between federal regulators, lots of state attorney generals of the United States and environmental groups that could leave them in limbo about future regulations.
The manufacturers also want regulation changes to deal with lower gasoline prices and a shift in U.S. customer preferences to bigger, less fuel-efficient vehicles.
