Selling new gas cars in California will be banned in 2035
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved two California requests on Wednesday to implement stringent vehicle emissions rules, including a landmark policy aiming to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035. However, the incoming Trump administration is expected to challenge this decision.
California’s regulation goes beyond a federal emissions rule adopted earlier this year, which tightens standards but does not mandate electric vehicle (EV) sales.
The EPA stated that critics of the waivers failed to meet the legal threshold to prove that California’s EV rule or its heavy-duty vehicle standards violated the federal Clean Air Act.
“California has a long-standing authority to seek waivers from EPA to protect its residents from harmful air pollution caused by cars and trucks,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement. “Today’s decisions reflect EPA’s commitment to collaborating with states to cut emissions and tackle climate change.”
The new waiver also impacts over a dozen other states that follow California’s pioneering emissions standards.
Nevertheless, the approval may be short-lived. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to revoke California’s emissions waivers as part of a broader push to support fossil fuel production and repeal key provisions of the 2022 climate law.
Trump previously rescinded California’s emissions authority in 2019, a decision reversed in 2022 by the Biden administration. A renewed effort to revoke the waivers is likely to spark fresh legal challenges, delaying any changes.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, a vocal proponent of the state’s climate policies, celebrated the EPA’s decision, calling it an endorsement of California’s achievements in reducing pollution.
“Naysayers like President-elect Trump may prefer to side with the oil industry over consumers and automakers, but California will continue leading innovation in clean energy,” Newsom said.
While companies like Ford, Honda, and Volkswagen are meeting California’s current emissions standards, some automakers and industry groups criticized the latest EPA waiver. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation noted that most states adopting California’s rules are far from reaching EV sales targets, including the 2035 goal of 100% EV sales.
“Meeting these mandates under current market realities will be extremely challenging,” said John Bozzella, CEO of the Alliance. “There needs to be a more balanced approach, and some states should reconsider following California’s program.”
Toyota spokesman Scott Vazin warned that California’s waiver could distort the auto market by prioritizing EV distribution to certain states. “If a consumer in one of these states cannot afford an EV or it doesn’t meet their needs, they may find no alternative options on dealership lots,” he said.
Environmental advocates praised the EPA’s approval. Paul Cort, director of Earthjustice’s Right To Zero campaign, called it a “crucial step forward” in reducing both air pollution and reliance on fossil fuels.
Kathy Harris, director of clean vehicles at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said the decision respects state autonomy. “California has determined that transitioning to zero-emission vehicles is the best solution for its unique air quality challenges,” Harris said. “This is how federalism should work.”
The EPA’s decision coincides with the Supreme Court’s announcement last week that it will hear a business-backed appeal challenging a 2022 California waiver approved under the Biden administration. While the case will not review the waiver itself, it will address whether fuel producers have legal standing to challenge it. A federal appeals court previously ruled that these companies lacked standing since they failed to prove direct harm from the waiver, which primarily impacts automakers.