Seadog
12-09-2004, 02:51 PM
Major automakers are going to court to prevent California from adopting the world's toughest carbon dioxide emissions standards, the Detroit News reported.
The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Fresno by 13 California car dealerships and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a Washington-based trade group which represents nine automakers, including General Motors, Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Toyota, BMW and Volkswagen.
The suit seeks an injunction to stop California from enacting regulations aimed at reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2016. The regulations are set to be phased in beginning in 2009.
The lawsuit contends that only the federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has the authority to set fuel economy standards. But the California Air Resources Board maintains that it is within its authority because it is regulating carbon dioxide emissions, not fuel economy.
The automakers says the state's plan could add $3,000 or more to the sticker price of a new vehicle and would reduce consumer choices because manufacturers would likely drop vehicles with higher emissions, such as big SUVs.
The Air Resources Board estimates the new requirements would add an average of $325 to the price of a new vehicle in 2012, and $1,050 per vehicle in 2016.
The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Fresno by 13 California car dealerships and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a Washington-based trade group which represents nine automakers, including General Motors, Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Toyota, BMW and Volkswagen.
The suit seeks an injunction to stop California from enacting regulations aimed at reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2016. The regulations are set to be phased in beginning in 2009.
The lawsuit contends that only the federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has the authority to set fuel economy standards. But the California Air Resources Board maintains that it is within its authority because it is regulating carbon dioxide emissions, not fuel economy.
The automakers says the state's plan could add $3,000 or more to the sticker price of a new vehicle and would reduce consumer choices because manufacturers would likely drop vehicles with higher emissions, such as big SUVs.
The Air Resources Board estimates the new requirements would add an average of $325 to the price of a new vehicle in 2012, and $1,050 per vehicle in 2016.