Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has taken the lead in a multistate coalition of 15 attorneys general to support the National Highway Traffic Safety Association's (NHTSA) fuel-economy standards. An amicus brief was filed in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of California and other states, defending these standards against challenges from Republican-led states and oil industry groups. These groups are not only contesting federal fuel-economy standards but also targeting California's zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) standards.

"Efficient vehicles and clean vehicles should not be partisan issues. Yet, we continue to see politically motivated attacks," said Attorney General Bonta. "We are at a critical juncture in protecting our people and the environment, and that’s why I, alongside attorneys general nationwide, are unwavering in our commitment to defend these standards that will better protect our communities."

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 mandates NHTSA to set Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards at feasible levels for manufacturers. These standards aim to conserve fuel, save consumers money, stabilize U.S. oil prices, and reduce public health impacts from oil consumption. Last June, NHTSA updated these standards for model years 2027 to 2031, requiring automakers to improve fleet-wide fuel efficiency for cars and trucks. The agency estimates these updates will save consumers nearly $23 billion by reducing gasoline consumption by about 70 billion gallons and preventing 710 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions through 2050.

Challengers argue that NHTSA should develop CAFE standards without considering electric vehicles sold by automakers—a notion dismissed as unrealistic by NHTSA. They also challenge NHTSA's acknowledgment of electric vehicle sales consistent with California's ZEV standards.

California’s ZEV standards play a crucial role in its emissions program aimed at mitigating health and environmental impacts from vehicle pollutants like ozone and particulate matter. These state-level emission regulations operate independently from federal fuel-economy guidelines under the Clean Air Act, which allows California—and any state choosing to follow suit—to establish its own emissions criteria.

The coalition's amicus brief defends both NHTSA’s stringent fuel-economy measures and California’s ZEV regulations against what they describe as an inappropriate legal challenge.

Attorney General Bonta is joined by his counterparts from Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia in this legal effort.

A copy of the amicus brief is available online.