President Trump announced this week that he would officially revoke California’s authority to set its own fuel economy standards, arguing that the move to a single standard would provide safer cars at a lower price point, while also creating more jobs.
“Many more cars will be produced under the new and uniform standard, meaning significantly more JOBS, JOBS, JOBS! Automakers should seize this opportunity because without this alternative to California, you will be out of business,” Trump tweeted.
California’s fuel economy standards are stricter than those set by federal regulators. The Trump administration’s move to set a single national standard would revoke a waiver issued by the EPA in 2013, which allowed the state to set its own rules.
While some automakers have supported relaxed fuel economy standards, others have argued that higher fuel economy standards will make their cars more competitive on a global level, and thus prevent job losses.
In a statement, the interim CEO and President of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Dave Schwietert, weighed in on the issue.
“Automakers support year-over-year increases in fuel economy standards that align with marketplace realities, and we support one national program as the best path to preserve good auto jobs, keep new vehicles affordable for more Americans and avoid a marketplace with different standards,” Schwietert said.
GM has been forced to walk a fine line in the matter. “Our focus remains on working with all parties on a solution that would involve a 50-state solution and a national electric vehicle program,” GM has stated previously, also citing its goal of “zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion.”
The latest move follows an antitrust investigation from the Justice Department examining an agreement between California, BMW, Ford, Honda and VW, in which the state and four major automakers planned to circumvent Trump’s plan to freeze emissions and fuel economy standards.
“We embrace federalism and the role of the states, but federalism does not mean that one state can dictate standards for the nation,” said EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler earlier this week at the National Automobile Dealers Association.
As expected, the revocation of California’s fuel economy standards waiver will be met with a flurry of legal challenges.
“You have no basis and no authority to pull this waiver,” said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. “We’re ready to fight for a future that you seem unable to comprehend.”
Thirteen states, including the District of Columbia, follow California’s lead with regard to more stringent fuel economy standards.
Comments
““You have no basis and no authority to pull this waiver,” said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra.”
If they don’t have the right to pull it, they probably never had the right to grant it to begin with either!
the clean air act allows california to regulate auto emissions. it is the law. king trump can’t unilaterally decide to change the law. maybe he’ll pull the national security card out but that would be laughable.
Another reason I am an independent voter.
I thought the Republican party was for shifting more power to the states.
Well just like most Republican regulation, its only for one reason $$$$$$$$$$$$
Anyway as far as the relaxing of standards, if you cant compete, change the rules !!!
Hopefully no automakers change anything, for sure GM.
Some here have said it takes GM 5 years to plan a vehicle to production if automakers go backwards they are just asking for being behind the competition.
GM has showed in the last onslaught of vehicles that they are already behind the competition.
They just need to quit being so cheap, and start making world class leading vehicles, not excuses for why they can’t compete !!!
GM Doesn’t care about that anymore, it’s all about greed, they could care less about quality world class vehicles.
Lifelong: It’s not that they’re greedy; [that’s why i’m Obsessed w/the discovery channel’s: “HOW-IT’S-MADE” show!] The amount of funds($$$/Money) it takes to mold & produce every component that goes into our individual rides!!
Is the TOTAL COST of supplying each production plant w/those parts is WHAT TALLIES THE COST OF THE PRICE of our finished [product/ride] before buying it from a dealer @ the manufactures price: So the employee’s can profit from each sale!!
Chevrolet enthusiast,
I was in the business for 15 years.
Production costs.
labor costs.
Material costs.
Visited bearing suppliers.
Visited injection molders.
Visited die casters.
Visited sand casters.
Visited testing facilities all over north America.
Was a member of a SAE task force to set SAE standards.
Was in charge of plant automation for years !
Was in charge of assembly line automation for years !
I know full and well what goes into the price of a vehicle !!
And I don’t mind it when an automaker makes a profit, and I will pay what ever it takes and not say one word, that’s Capitalism !!
What I do mind is selling non working ” known faulty ” parts !
It is ok if GM makes one million dollars per vehicle, fine with me !
But if I pay one million, I want the CUE system to work, or GM should fix it, I want the block heater to work, or GM should fix it, I want the seat heater to work or GM should fix it, I want the transmission to shift or GM should fix it, I want to be able top see out my headlights or GM should fix it, I don’t want my wheels to bend or break, or GM should fix them, and I could go on and on !
For me this has nothing to do with complaining !
For me this has nothing to do with cost !
For me its principal !!!!!
I paid GM for a product I want what I paid for !
I know some here will say, go buy something else.
You see, I am a GM guy, and other people are buying something else, look at GM’s market share in the US, it just continues to slide yearly !
In my business, when I do a job, and the customer calls with troubles, I am there fixing the troubles, period, and for sure if they already paid for it !
So do the employees chose the vehicles GM makes ?
Do the employees, chose the suppliers GM uses ?
Do the employees ok the designs ?
How is this trouble the employees fault ?
I want the US auto industry to succeed, but from advancements, and value, not rigging the system and cheating !
13 states, including the district of Columbia, follow California’s lead with regard to more stringent fuel economy Standards.
Update the district of Columbia is not a state.
Have you been watching the news? D.C. can become the 51st State soon . I assume it will be named “Columbia”, so Washing, D.C. will become Washington, the Capital of Columbia. This is a great name because the correct name of the nation and the continent should be Columbia, after Christopher Columbus, not after Amerigo Vespucci.
Or you could call the continents Eric. After Eric the red, who discovered The continent years before Columbus. Or did he actually discover Europe version 2.0.
Dah.
Outlook Inloggen
I am not really political at all. This screams to high heaven that the Republicans (and most likely the Dems as well) are completely bought out by Big Oil. I think everyone here fails to realize that Europe and China will be off of ICE engined cars by no later than 2030. Our Government is placing our Home Teams behind. I hope that Ford, FCA, and GM stand up and let everyone know that they will continue to follow the regulations already set forth and will be up to date with Europe and China. If anything, regulations should be even harder to force our Big three into EV’s quicker so they will be able to compete in Europe and China going forward. Without China sales especially, GM will not survive. Lets all remember that GM has almost zero Footprint in Europe.
nothing is stopping them from making more fuel efficient cars than the government mandates except them and profits, just like nothing is stopping them from making better and more reliable cars other than themselves. One standard should be set for all so everyone is on a level playing field and whoever works hardest gets the customer. I think this is similar to what came before participation trophies and bought out politicians who put our country behind using zero tariffs on foreign imports while we paid out the nose to get our products into other countries.
Yep, lets open those markets up,
Please, and don’t forget the trucks while we are at it !!!
Its capitalism, get it capitalism !!!!
Competition, makes better everything, and the masses will eventually make the laws or regulations.
So set one standard, I’m ok with that. Let the states set the taxes per pollution in their state, and thereby pricing out the non competitive vehicles.
Its the same thing we have now yet the current lawmakers in charge want to blame California.
So if you did it this way, the standard would be the same and it would penalize those only in California and the other forward thinking states.
The results would be the same do to the largest vehicle market in the US charging you more to drive a less competitive vehicle !!
So lets get this done, open those markets up for free level playing field on all products !!!
Because if we in the US opened up all the tariff related products we would soon find out that ” most ” I did ” not ” say all, I said ” most ” of the US designed and manufactured products are ” behind ” !!!
We simply don’t live in the 70s any longer, get out in the world and look, drive, try out things, use whats available !!!!
In the work world, if it isn’t made in Germany or Japan, it isn’t worth buying, and Korea isn’t far behind now.
Like I said, open it up !!! Free trade !!!! Free competition !!!!! One standard for everything !!!! Or better yet why not any standard ? That’s how this all got started right !!! Lets just start over !!!
O that’s right that’s what the current admin. is doing I forgot !!!
You let “Toyota, Japan”, “Honda, Japan”, ” VW, Germany “, ” Kia, Korea”, compete on a level playing field in the US on all vehicles, and Ford and GM would be broke in five years !!!!
We just have a system in the US that rewards people if they can buy the doers, and the doers are becoming harder to buy, and harder to find.
Why you ask ?
Again, because in the US we have a system that rewards the people who can buy the doers, and not the doers !!
And the doers are becoming fewer, and fewer, and the good ones just can’t be bought any longer.
Again, why do I now vote independent ?
Because in the Republican party when I grew up, the harder you worked the more you got ahead!!!
Now its the more you regulate the competition the more you get ahead !!
I thought as Republicans we hate regulation ?? Do we still hate regulations, or just the ones that don’t work for you ?
In my opinion !!
Not of the Dems are bought off. Big hint is where they take money from.
Bernie Sanders and Tulsi Gabbard take money from only people.
They’re not bought off.
So that is how Bernie got millions to buy his home.
Don’t get conned he is just like the others.
@momolos
“regulations should be even harder to force our Big three”
Get a load of this idiot.
NO DUMMY!!! The government shouldn’t be guiding much less forcing companies to do what they want in the market. If it’s true other countries are moving away from ICE, GM THEMSELVES should see that & adjust accordingly, not because POS government tells them to, much less when those laws are passed based on BS theories like “global cooling” no wait “global warming” no wait they couldn’t get their BS straight so they settled on “climate change.”
This will ultimately be determined by whether the Fed Govt can regulate the Inter-State Commerce, and as it can, these DemoRat run states are going rogue… and they cover these acts with “do goodisms” so as to turn the argument around… liberals are unprincipled pathetic cowards…
It makes sense for One standard that is not set by the eco-alarmists in California, but to have the best of the country in mind. Thanks Trump!
Go suck on his D!ck. He loves that!
Remember that this nation’s official name is “The United States of America”, which is the Union of States in America (we are not the only “Americans”). The Founders recognized the authority of each State to regulate their own property and resources, so no Federal law can over ride a State regulation. And a higher MPG allows true competition between manufacturers, since the imports have their national economy regulations that is higher than what the EPA wants, and sell more than domestics. Let every State do their own regulations. California is doing so, since it is the highest market for cars and has the highest population of cars, yet it has cleaned up its air. The POTUS is just worried about getting less oil money for his campaign donations!
You are incorrect. Federal law always supercedes state law.
JWL,
Do you feel the same on gay rights?
Do you feel the same on abortions ?
Do you feel the same on Healthcare ?
Do you feel the same on gun rights ?
Because I do, and when the pendulum swings the other way, and it will, the ” same ” people crying over this will be crying over that !!
It goes both ways !!
Another reason I am an independent voter !!
What???. Article 6 of the constitution clearly states that federal law supersedes state law. Its called the supremacy clause. Your response is complete nonsense and has nothing to do with my statement.
No I agree with you on the law !! JWL
Aren’t you saying that the EPA law to mandate a national emissions law should supersede a states one ?
I just wondered if you feel the same way when the pendulum swings ?
Isn’t pot against federal law !! aren’t there a lot of states that allow it ?
I just wondered if the law is the law to you, or if your another one who thinks the law only applies if its what they believe in !
I have no agenda. I’m just stating that federal law supersedes state law per the US constitution. It doesn’t matter the context of the law or my opinion. Pot is still illegal. States that are “legalizing”it are not really legalizing; they are deciding to not enforce federal law if it is sold through a method in which they can tax it.
California will only sell ZEV (electric or fuel cell vehicles) by 2030; but California’s governor has yet to come up with the plan to build a power grid infrastructure to support millions of electric vehicles because without an increase in capacity.. the state will suffer massive brownouts.
California could experience lawsuits by brownouts from individuals who were forced to buy an electric vehicle or a company that needed to shutdown because of lack of power.
Good California deserve their short comings after what they done, they don’t even give a f*** about the homelessness,
auto companies would love to over-ride California regulations, but reality is that California is a huge market and it can do whatever it pleases. Without their stricter regulations, southern california would undoubtedly be a dirtier place than it already is. It’s not just about climate alarmists. Smaller more efficient cars also emit less particulate pollution, etc. It’s unfortunate that automakers must follow several different standards, but is that really so different than exporting to different countries? Not really.
Also, It’s the United STATES of America. It’s the same reason that I, in WA state, can walk down to my friendly neighborhood weed store and get as high as I like, legally. State’s rights are a good thing, even if you don’t agree with what other states do.
Well this is really about the future of the auto industry in general and what you will be able to buy.
The harsh realities are that EV is no to a point it is an answer to most drivers needs or affordability yet. Most automakers fully have plans for ICE till 2050 as they know it remains the most viable option for a good number of years yet.
The key here is development cost are off the chart. Most companies will have to partner with others to survive. If Ford working with VW is not a big clue then look around at the many partnerships in the works.
Now you mix that up with 50 states making their own calls on regulations it makes it difficult for MFGs to meet these growing different regulations.
If 50 states were not bad enough global regulations only coumpounds the regulations even more.
We already are pretty close to equal regulations on safety equipment. But we are still far apart on emissions.
The truth is automakers just want one regulations for America and many are pushing for more global markets to work together and bring things closer so they do not have to meet so many different regulations and testing.
This is not big oil as even a simpleton in business can see this.
The regulations are so bad even in the parts markets where I work they have to undergo special testing on individual parts. Even things like gas containers can be banned or rendered difficult to use.
I normally am for state rights but this is clearly a case where we all need to come together as one to really make this work effectively and in the best interest of our country and economy.
Like it or not the auto industry as a whole represents one of the largest segments of our economy. It is not just the automakers but the steel suppliers, plastics suppliers, and many outside suppliers and transportation support for the industry that can be affected.
So we need to drop the political BS here, drop the greed BS here and drop the Big Oil BS here. This is about survival of the companies that if they fail could crush wide scale economies.
There is some middle ground we can all meet on and make this work.
As it is now it is like if we went to fight WW2 with 50 different armies vs one American force working as one.
If you want greed much of the global warming people are mostly about power, control and money. They preach and indoctrinate this and then move in to reap the profits from government funding as they close their failed companies.
We should be good stewards of the environment but we also need to be honest, reasonable and measured in our actions. Crashing our economy does no one any good.
Folks this is a case where all sides need to give a little and just work as one for the benefit of all not just a few.
Not even one comment !!!
Just like GM you keep people from talking !!
Well that showed up !
Anyway C8.R,
I’m sure you can see what I wrote, and won’t let the rest see it !!
But this statement is just another excuse by the US automakers on why they can’t compete !!
” FEAR ”
This will crash the economy, the world will end !!
No the world will not end !
The rest of the automakers who can compete will be just fine selling us a better vehicle !!
The higher up at GM already have enough, so they will be fine !
The stock holders of GM already have enough, so they will be fine !
And the workers in the US will be off the union lines, so they will be fine !
And after the political dust settles, we will have better vehicles, more jobs, and higher wages, just not to the people who make it not possible to compete !!
I’ll try that, see if you let it post !
In my opinion.
C8.R,
You are selling ” fear ” !!!
Another reason I am no longer a R e p u b l I c a n !!
Is this the USA we live in ?
Is it not a c a p I t a l I s t I c economy ?
Are you a s o c I a l i s t ?
Or like the Republican party now days, a S o c I a l I s t when it works for you ?
Read what you just wrote !!!
You want us all to help out the auto industry, S o c i a l I s m
When I was R e p u b l i c a n and was taught C a p i t a l I s m, nobody told me, and lets all get together for the sake of one, that’s S o c i a l I s m !!!
I was taught as a young R e p u b l I c a n, work smarter, work harder, work longer, and you will succeed !!
So I am an independent voter, now, I go both ways, but mainly the old R e p u b l I c a n ways, not the unfair mandated regulation that works for certain people, regulation that lets the ” best ” surface to the top !!
If GM or the auto industry cant figure out how to do what the public wants ” go broke ”
You honestly think ” fear ” that it will ruin the world !!
You don’t think once you take all the ” extra ” costs out, dealers, higher up’s pay, stock holders dividends, kickbacks, and just the republican regulations, that the world, the world, you get it yet, the world, can’t figure out how to make a vehicle, its 2020 man not the middle ages !!!!
You honestly think in the year 2020 that the world is going to go into squalor over the cost of testing a vehicle because of regulations ?
Why hasn’t the R e p b u l I c a n party of today bought up those testing facilities yet ?
You would think that would be the first thing they would have done, not changed the regulations, so they aren’t needed !
Its C a p I t a l i s m, you are putting people out of work by not needing more testing facilities.
I thought the Rep. party was for ” competition brings down price ”
If there is that much money being spent on testing, get on board, make some of it !!!
Its C a p i t a l I s m, it will bring down the price, right ?
Your preaching to the coir here, you want it both ways, or what ever way works out for you !!
To me its an excuse not to have to compete, if you cant compete, get out of the game and let the big boys play !!
As an independent I am both, S o c i a l I s m for the masses, the basic needs of human life, capitalism for the wants, you want a million dollar car and a fifty million dollar house, C a p i t a l i s m !!!
Sounds like above you are preaching a lot of S o c i a l I s m, for a automobile company, and without it we are all going to die !!
But again, just my opinion.
And you know why we are talking politics on this subject ?
Because the article is political, and it has a picture of the President of the United States, not a vehicle or even a picture of the over priced testing facility that is todays excuse for the US automaker !
Got it in
Selling Reality in the real world.
I am seeing first hand the added cost to my work and my cost to buy new automobiles because California is off on a tangent.
We need to all work together to compliment each other or we will end up working apart. The founders of this country tried to strike a balance that is lost on many today.
OK C8.R , lets work together, selling your reality !
What are you selling ?
And I am selling the exact opposite !
You selling ICE performance parts ?
I am selling electric vehicles and wind and solar parts !
I am seeing first hand the added costs to my work and my costs to buy new automobiles, wind equipment, solar equipment, because the EPA is off on a tangent.
How are you going to work together ?
I am willing.
In the real world.
You do relies we both live in the same world here correct !
I am an 8th generation American, lets figure this out !
I will offer you a level playing field, OK !
You get all the S o c I a l I s t , tax payer funded money out of the automobile, trucking, oil, gas, and rubber industries, and we will be level there !!
I will give you absolutely ZERO regulations on ANY emissions standards !
We will just let the markets dictate the winner !!
You see, you want to keep things the same, you ” fear ” change.
That plane will never fly !
That automobile will never work !
That oil is unsafe we are all going to explode !!
That electricity is going to kill us all !!
That geothermal heat is to expensive, who will pay for that !!
That computer is useless, nobody needs that !!
That natural gas furnace is going to explode, you wait and see !!
And I could go on and on and on.
Where did you want the progress of change to stop ?
I never do, ever !! I like all of the above things, all of them, there are ZERO advancements to human life I don’t like, you ?
My great, great, great, great, great, great, grandpa would have loved to heat his house with the sun, and get from point A to point B in an electric vehicle charged from the wind and the sun !
He would have loved to go to the bathroom in his spray foam insulated warm house !!
He would have loved to keep his game he killed fresh in his freezer powered by electricity, and from the sun !
This is the real world !!!
The real world is in constant change literally every second, changing, moving !1
Where do you want it to stop ?
In the 60s or 70s ?
Because if I ask my grandpa, he wanted it to stop in the 50’s !
Your getting OLD, we all are, its reality, your changing, everything is changing !
What are you offering today that works for both of us ?
In the real world !
You really have no clue to whom you address things. You tend to label and talk as if you know me? Sorry you have no clue.
#1 I am not against progress.
#2 I am not against EV products.
#3 I am not against the environment.
#4 I am not against change.
What I am against is change for the sake of impulsive change without regard to all factors of economic, social and security for our country.
There are many on the web and media that mislead, distort and lie about many things. We must not place all out chips on lies and bad science.
There are many trying to sell fear that we are doomed to gain power, control and money. I can point to many reports daily that are out and out flaws and lies.
There is no need to panic and force things through that can be better investigated and measured.
When we make changes we need to do them at a pace we do not suffer economically. We must not destroy our industries. We need to protect our rights, we need to protect all states and all citizens.
There are many globally that would like to remove America as a global leader. We must all work to prevent this.
One first step is to get our states to work together and broker a deal where we as a country are one in agreement on regulations.
The next step is to work to try to broker a deal globally. This will as a whole let us advance but also remain competitive with all markets. It would not be easy to do but we need to start at home.
I would expect the agreement to include promoting new technology but it would also regulate them to advance as they become cost viable. Setting high level of regulation leaves us with companies trying to sell products people can’t afford or too often they don’t want.
This hurts our industry and ends up destroying our jobs and costing people more and more. The average car now is creeping up on $40,000. Incomes are not keeping pace and we lose more industry more will not keep pace.
The difference between me and you is how we gamble. You want to buy a lottery ticket yo the future. I would rather play Black Jack where there still is some risk but you better control the odds. The lottery is the big lie like the media preaches. When you better control the odds you find you increase success.
Case in point wind farms do not contribute like they claim. Sun farms will never replace generating plants. Hat balance them with new efficient plants then we all benefit.
C8.R,
Correct, I do not know you !!
And you do not know me !!!
Again what you wright is ” your ” opinion, that is it !!
Your opinion !!!
What I wright is ” my ” opinion !!!!!
Yours is right to you, mine is right to me !!!
I personally have solar power, I personally have wind power, I personally use geothermal heat and cooling.
I know first hand how they work, as I design and install and use them !!!
I also own new and newer vehicles, and older ones, I know the ICE performance business, I have two brothers who are still in that dying business !!
I own a 1958 Corvette, a 1968 Camaro, a 1968 Chevrolet pickup, a 1968 Chevy truck !!
I can smell the raw gas coming out of the exhaust !!
Like I said, you are preaching to the choir !!!!
And I do ” not ” want to ” risk ” as you think !!
I am a very conservative person !!! South Dakotan conservative !!!
What I do ” not ” agree with you on are !!!
Why do you think its ok to use tax payer S o c I a l I s m for ICE vehicles, and fossil fuel energy !!
And not use tax payer S o c I a l I s m for alternative energy sources !!!
You see I feel first hand that costs of alternative energy is cheaper and would provide just as many high paying jobs as fossil fuel !!
Look at it from the start at every single component of the process from the ground to moving people !!!!
If you start over, with what human kind is capable of this day,
There is absolutely zero way human kind would do it the way we are doing it now !!!
How do we get there ?
You are linking, doing the right thing to costs!!!
Today the average American is no longer willing to do the wrong thing because of costs !!!
Look at the markets today !
Do you know why economists cant figure out the new investor ??
Because the new investor is simply not going to do the wrong thing for money !!
If GM doesn’t buy their own stocks back, nobody wants them any longer !!
Same with Ford !!
Same with GE !!!
Same with Boeing !!!
And on and on !!!
But look at the investors in Tesla !! And do they even make a profit yet ?
Its the right thing, for man kind !!! Is what they believe !! Burning up global resources is not working, at least for the many, and the ones who think it is working, are dying, and it will soon be a quicker pace, and their children who will obtain their wealth, do not think the same as they did !! Take, take, take, waist, waist, waist, all for the love of money, greed !!
Money to the young investor is not as important as air, or food, or life, its a piece of paper, or not even that any longer, the money of today or wealth is simply a 1 or a 0, digital !!
Why are we cutting interest rates if our economy is doing so great ?
Why is everyone planning another recession ?
Because the average investor, around the world today is looking for the right investment for the good of the globe, your simply not going to be able to eat money, and again, the 1 and 0 will go away in a fraction of a second, and there simply will be nothing !!
So like I said, I am a C a p I t a l I s t, Work smart, hard, long, and succeed !!
But with an equal funding of tax payer S o c I a l I s m !!!!
The best, smartest, cheapest way will surface to the top !!
If its not what you think —– fine
If its not what I think —— fine
But it will be the best, smartest, cheapest way to get from point A to point B.
And It will take a while, in my opinion !!
And yes, people who are on the wrong side of the solution will lose, suffer, and some go broke !!
It has been happening from the beginning of human life !!!
And this day, I believe, the USA is on the wrong side of progress, and short of war, we will continue to slip, all do to the greed in the tax payer S o c I a l I s m only for some and not for all Americans !!!
In my opinion !
Using over 300 exclamation points in this tread alone, and yet it’s impossible to take you seriously when you continue to type like a raving madman.