Toyota finally ended its war with California, recognizing the state’s authority to set its own, more aggressive emissions standards through the California Air Resources Board (CARB) under the Clean Air Act.
The automaker said Wednesday that it has informed CARB and the California state government.
“In recent communication, we acknowledge CARB’s leadership in climate policies and its authority to set vehicle emissions standards under the Clean Air Act,” according to the statement. Toyota press. That quickly received a positive response from the agency.
2023 Toyota bZ4X Limited AWD
“Although we have had differences in the past, we look forward to growing #ZEV together on a positive basis,” CARB president Liane Randolph tweeted late in the day, referring to the zero-emission vehicles.
In 2019, Toyota is one of the automakers joining the effort challenge California’s Clean Air Act waiver and the Trump administration’s authority to regulate auto emissions. It is represented by the lobbying group of the Global Association of Automobile Manufacturers along with Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Subaru, Aston Martin and Maserati.
General Motors and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (now Stellantis) also sided with the Trump administration. Both companies had previously ended their opposition to California’s emissions regulator, while Ford, BMW, Honda and Volkswagen supported California from the start.
Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE 2021
That led to the state government boycott relevant car manufacturers. Toyota may now qualify for a fleet acquisition from the California government, LA time noted.
Toyota is now shifting its focus to electric cars, with plans to 30 production models globally by 2030. That said, Toyota said at the beginning of last year that it’s too early to focus on EVs and it’s still guess that 85% of its sales will be successful by 2030.
