Liberation Day for Gas-Powered Cars

The Senate votes to end California’s EV quota. Will Newsom give it up?

WSJ editorial. Excerpts:

"Under California’s EV regime, 35% of auto maker sales next year are required to be “zero-emission vehicles,” rising to 68% in 2030 and 100% by 2035. The Clean Air Act lets California set its own vehicle emissions standards, which was meant to address its historically smoggier air. CO2 emissions from gas cars don’t contribute to pollution, but the Environmental Protection Agency under President Biden granted a waiver to bless the policy.

A dozen or so other states have also adopted California’s rules. But auto makers aren’t anywhere close to meeting the quotas. In 2023 EVs made up a mere 13% of sales for traditional car makers in California, 8% in Massachusetts and 6% in New York.

Auto makers warn the quotas would force them to produce fewer gas cars. Prices would almost certainly rise to offset their EV losses. The mandate would harm workers, too. Auto makers have shed jobs as they ratchet up EV production. Michigan has lost 11,600 motor vehicle and parts jobs in the past two years."