STATEMENT: Car Companies Join Trump Administration’s “Reckless Attack” on California’s Emissions Standards
This week, the Association of Global Automakers, representing GM, Toyota, Fiat-Chrysler, and Nissan, among other car manufacturers, announced that it would intervene in litigation in favor of the Trump administration’s effort to strip California of its authority to establish vehicle emission standards for greenhouse gases. According to a New York Times article, these companies agreed to intervene after receiving pressure from a representative of the Trump administration. By contrast, several other car markers—including Ford, Honda, Volkswagen and BMW—have publicly sided with the State of California in upholding the existing standards.
WRI encourages companies to align their public positions on climate change with their actions, policies, and lobbying efforts.
Following is a statement by Dan Lashof, U.S. Director, World Resources Institute:
“The automakers joining the Trump administration’s reckless attack on California’s authority to set clean car standards are making a historic error. This stands in sharp contrast with a group of major vehicle companies that reached an agreement with California to support strong standards. Intervening on behalf of the past, rather than the future, on behalf of pollution, rather than public health, and on behalf of higher fuel consumption, rather than consumer savings is bad for customers, investors, employees and the planet we all share.”