Truck Manufacturers Sue California Over Clean Trucks Mandate

News Summary

Four major truck manufacturers have filed a lawsuit in California to challenge the enforcement of the Advanced Clean Trucks mandate established by CARB. The lawsuit claims that compliance has become unfeasible due to recent federal actions impacting vehicle emissions regulations. As the conflict intensifies between state and federal standards, the manufacturers seek clarity and injunctive relief to halt CARB’s enforcement, highlighting the broader implications for environmental governance.

California – Four major truck manufacturers, including Daimler, PACCAR, Volvo Group North America, and International Motors, have filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. The lawsuit aims to halt the enforcement of the California Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) mandate set by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The manufacturers argue that compliance with these regulations has become “impossible,” particularly in light of recent federal actions that have affected the legal landscape surrounding vehicle emissions.

The lawsuit emerges as a direct reaction to federal measures that have invalidated the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) waiver, which had previously allowed CARB’s regulations to move forward. These federal rollbacks have intensified the conflict between state and federal standards, placing truck manufacturers in a difficult position where they must navigate differing regulations. The Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA), which represents these manufacturers, previously entered into an agreement called the Clean Truck Partnership (CTP) in 2023. The intention of this agreement was to create a framework for compliance with the ACT, while simultaneously aligning California’s stricter standards with those of the federal EPA.

According to the lawsuit, the manufacturers have received directives from the Department of Justice (DOJ) that require them to cease compliance with the CTP and California’s vehicle emissions regulations. This guidance has prompted calls for clarification regarding their obligations under the CTP. In addition, the manufacturers claim that the requirements imposed by CARB are invalid under federal law due to preemption. Yet, CARB maintains that the federal actions against EPA waivers are unlawful and insists that manufacturers adhere to the CTP rules.

The conflict escalates as CARB themselves have taken legal action against the federal government, contesting that the EPA waivers should not fall under the authority of the Congressional Review Act. Furthermore, Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent executive order has heightened pressure on manufacturers by threatening negative regulatory consequences for those unwilling to comply with ACT mandates.

Despite CARB’s attempts to modify the ACT to provide some degree of flexibility for industry stakeholders, it has emphasized the commitments established under the Clean Truck Partnership. Previous feedback from the EMA pointed to dissatisfaction with the stringent requirements laid out in the ACT, which have made compliance increasingly complex and challenging for manufacturers.

In particular, the elimination of the Advanced Clean Fleets rule has exacerbated difficulties for manufacturers, as it mandated fleets to purchase a percentage of zero-emission vehicles. The truck manufacturers have underlined the critical need for clarity regarding laws and emissions standards pertaining to model year 2026, describing such information as essential for planning their production strategies effectively. Legal claims made in the lawsuit also address potential violations of the Clean Air Act’s preemption provisions, alongside a challenge to the legality of a clause in the CTP that forbids manufacturers from questioning CARB’s regulatory actions.

The truck manufacturers are seeking injunctive relief to stop CARB from enforcing both the ACT and related regulations. As the situation unfolds, CARB has chosen not to comment on the pending lawsuit, while the Clean Freight Coalition stands in support of the truck manufacturers’ legal action, labeling it as a necessary step in resolving the ongoing regulatory turmoil.

Environmental advocates, however, have raised critiques against the manufacturers’ stance, asserting that their arguments diverge from the original goals of the Clean Truck Partnership, which aimed to facilitate compliance during transitions between regulatory frameworks.

This lawsuit illustrates the ongoing conflict between California’s ambitious climate initiatives and recent federal regulatory rollbacks, highlighting the challenges facing truck manufacturers and the broader implications for state and federal governance of environmental issues.

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