California is attempting to flex its political influence once again.
The state’s Democrats think they can alter the course for the entire country.
But Gavin Newsom just got hit with some brutal news after an automaker started a rampage over this terrible scheme.
California’s radical emission standards goes up in flames
California caught consumers by storm by taking the lead in the attempt to eliminate gasoline-fueled vehicles in exchange for electric cars.
In 2023, the state announced their plan to ban automakers from selling gas vehicles by 2035.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB), run by a handful of unelected bureaucrats, issued a new regulation titled Advanced Clean Cars II.
The initiative would mandate automakers to ensure that 35% of their 2026 model inventory sold in the state be zero emission.
The regulation would allow up to 20% of their zero emission cars to be plug-in hybrids, while at least 15% of them must be completely electric.
If automakers cannot reach these goals, they will have to pay tribute to the state of California through fines to have the ability to remain in business.
Unfortunately, the new regulation has started a similar trend within other Leftist controlled states.
Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, Oregon, and Washington state are installing the same Advance Clean Cars II regulation starting with 2026 car models, as well.
Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Colorado, and Washington, D.C. have announced they will be doing the same starting with 2027 models.
California is, by far, the largest market in the country.
So the state is looking to flex its muscles by forcing automakers to comply with their bureaucrats’ radical policies in order to have access to this market.
Toyota raises hell over California’s unrealistic goals
Toyota has become the biggest voice of opposition to the idea of forcing automakers to adopt an all-electric fleet of vehicles in the near future.
The automaker has cited extremely weak demand for these types of models, and the result has been dealerships stuck with massive inventory frozen on their lots, forcing them to scale back their production of these vehicles.
According to a recent statement issued by Toyota Motor North America, it would be “impossible” for automakers to comply with California’s radical Advance Clean Cars II regulation.
“I have not seen a forecast by anyone… government or private, anywhere that has told us that that number is achievable,” stated Toyota’s Chief Operating Officer Jack Hollis. “At this point, it looks impossible.”
“Demand isn’t there,” he continued. “It’s going to limit a customer’s choice of the vehicles they want.”
As of now, there is not a single state that has come close to hitting the 35% target by the initial deadline set by the regulation.
In the state of California alone, electric and hybrid vehicles have hit the high water mark of just 27% of sales, whereas New York has only hit 12%.
Those numbers are expected to plummet once President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House in January of 2025.
Trump reportedly plans to eliminate the $7,500 federal tax credit for the purchase or lease of an electric vehicle that was instituted in the Biden-Harris Inflation Reduction Act.
The automotive market is likely to see a massive upheaval without a single change being announced to California’s radical regulations.
“It’s going to distort the industry. It’s going to distort the business,” added Hollis. “Why? Because it’s unnatural to what the current demand in the marketplace is.”
California has received the green light to institute their own emission standards for vehicles due to former President Barack Obama’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signing a waiver for the state.
During Trump’s first tenure in the White House, he had rescinded the waiver, but the move was locked up in the courts before President Joe Biden ordered his EPA to put it back in place.
Donald Trump will likely try to revoke the waiver once more, which virtually guarantees another massive legal battle between the White House and the state of California over their Advance Clean Cars II regulation.
