President Donald Trump said in his joint address before Congress last week his administration has ended rules that force automakers to build electric vehicles, an issue that impacts the foreseeable future for Michigan’s automotive industry.

One way to truly make good on that claim would be to eliminate California’s outsized regulatory influence over setting fuel emissions standards. The nation's largest state has been allowed to issue rules that are more stringent than the federal government's.

Through waivers that have been granted for decades under the Clean Air Act to California the state is able to set vehicle emissions standards through the California Air Resources Board that exceed the federal requirements.

California is one of the world's biggest car markets. Because of its outsized market share and multi-billion-dollar impact on the economy, any regulations issued exclusively by the state — and signed onto by other states — impact interstate commerce and become de facto nationwide regulations.

California’s most recent waiver — finalized in December 2024 as former President Joe Biden was leaving office — set an effective ban on sales of new gas, diesel and traditional hybrid vehicles for one-third of the U.S. auto market beginning in 2026 and culminating by 2035.

The Biden administration never sent the rule to Congress for review, stripping lawmakers of the opportunity for oversight.

The regulations have been adopted by 11 other states and Washington, D.C.

The rules far exceed fuel emissions standards set for cars and trucks even by the overreaching Biden administration. And they certainly don’t comport with how most Americans feel at this time about converting to EVs, which have severely lagged in predicted sales even with consumer subsidies.

American consumers and voters have already spoken back on the push from Washington to force electric vehicles. Consumers want choice in the auto market, but California’s requirements are unrealistic and squash the free market.

California’s own car market shows the lack of enthusiasm for EVs. In 2024, 25.3% of all new cars registered in the state were electric, compared with 25% in 2023, according to California Energy Commission data. That's well short of the state's 35% target.

Detroit automakers last year signaled through their pulling back of EV production that the market for electric vehicles is not where regulators have demanded it be.

The Trump administration has taken steps to get California’s regulations rescinded.

In February, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin sent back three of the waivers for review under the Congressional Review Act, which gives Congress the power to cancel rules finalized by outgoing presidents in the last 60 legislative days of the year.

Trump already rescinded a waiver that would have required trucking companies to adopt EVs by 2042.

U.S. Rep. John James, a Shelby Township Republican, is also leading efforts in Congress to pull back California’s control over the auto industry.

The impact on Michigan auto workers of a ban on new gas-powered vehicles in such a substantial chunk of the market would be enormous.

The consequences would be felt throughout the nation — and because of one state’s demands.

Congress has the power to act to overturn these regulatory bans through one means or another and has been emboldened by the Trump administration to move quickly. It should. In the interest of robust interstate commerce, America should have one set of emissions standards to cover the entire country.

_____

©2025 The Detroit News. Visit detroitnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.