GM, Fiat Chrysler and Toyota thanked by Trump on California emissions fight

U.S. President Donald Trump has thanked General Motors, Toyota Motor, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and other significant automakers for “standing with” his efforts to block California from setting its own vehicle emissions regulations for cars and trucks.

“California has treated the Auto Industry very poorly for many years, harming Workers and Consumers,” Trump tweeted.

The automakers’ decision to side with the Trump administration comes after legal challenges by California and 22 states and environmental groups in September.

Those challenges intend to undo the administration’s determination that federal law blocks California from setting their own rigorous tailpipe emission standards and zero-emission vehicle mandates.

The decision to support Trump, revealed in a submitting with a U.S. appeals court late on Monday, has urged a furious backlash from Democrats and environmentalists.

It also poses a threat for the automakers if a Democrat wins the White House in November 2020 and reverses Trump’s actions, permitting California to set its own regulations and revert to the stricter national emissions standards of the Obama era.