Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


California, 4 Automakers Defy Trump, Agree to Tighten Emissions Rules

Reuters

   WASHINGTON / DETROIT --Four major automakers said Thursday that they
   have reached an agreement with California on fuel efficiency rules,
   bypassing a Trump administration effort to strip the state of the right
   to fight climate change by setting its own standards.
   California and other states had vowed to enforce stricter Obama-era
   emissions standards, after President Donald Trump proposed rolling back
   the federal rules. Automakers had worried that court battles between
   state and federal governments could create years of uncertainty for
   manufacturers.
   Environmental groups had mixed reactions to the California compromise,
   which is voluntary for the automakers and not legally binding. The plan
   is more stringent than Trump's proposal but looser than the Obama-era
   rule.

   California, the most populous U.S. state, accounts for about 12% of
   U.S. vehicle sales, and if the administration recognizes the deal it
   would allow automakers to operate under one set of rules.
   "Ensuring that America's vehicles are efficient, safe and affordable is
   a priority for us all," Ford Motor Co., BMW AG, Volkswagen AG and Honda
   Motor Co. Ltd. said in a joint statement. They said the accord could
   help maintain a nationwide set of fuel efficiency requirements.

   Better option
   The automakers "didn't want to face the expense, distraction and the
   bad publicity that comes from being part of a big rollback on clean
   cars," Mary Nichols, who chairs the California Air Resources Board,
   told Reuters on Wednesday.
   She said the state hoped to turn the voluntary agreement "into
   enforceable agreements" and that the companies had agreed not to
   legally challenge California's vehicle regulatory authority.
   The White House showed no willingness to reopen talks, saying "the
   federal government, not a single state, should set this standard. We
   are moving forward to finalize a rule for the benefit of all
   Americans."
   Environmental Protection Agency spokesman Michael Abboud called the
   agreement "a PR stunt that does nothing to ... provide certainty and
   relief for American consumers."
   Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV said in a statement it looked forward to
   reviewing the agreement, while General Motors Co. said it still hoped
   for a nationwide deal.

.