According to Reuters, on 12/3, the US Department of Transportation filed a lawsuit in federal court in California. The defendant is the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

Last year, President Donald Trump signed an executive order rescinding California's "clean car" regulations, which aimed to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars from 2035. Based on this executive order, the US Department of Transportation asserts that California's zero emission vehicle regulations and exhaust emission standards are illegal and not permitted for enforcement.

US President Donald Trump signs an executive order revoking California's clean truck regulations, 12/6/2025. *Reuters*

Jonathan Morrison, Director of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, stated that this lawsuit would allow automakers to meet only one standard: federal fuel economy regulations.

CARB declined to comment on the matter.

A spokesperson for Gavin Newsom, Governor of California, called the lawsuit baseless. The spokesperson added that the state government would not back down, especially as Americans face rising gasoline prices since the Middle East conflict escalated. "The Trump administration is suing California for advancing the production of cleaner, more affordable vehicles, which frees drivers from reliance on foreign oil markets and malign actors profiting from global instability," the spokesperson stated.

In 2022, California's current vehicle regulations were approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under President Joe Biden. The state government maintains that these regulations remain in effect.

The lawsuit is the latest in a series of efforts by the Trump administration to block California from setting emission regulations for vehicles. In 8/2025, they joined truck manufacturers in suing the state for enforcing stricter emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles.

California requires automakers to sell an increasing number of electric vehicles and meet stringent emission criteria. These regulations are far stricter than federal standards.

Previously, the US legislature stripped California's authority to ban gasoline cars after 2035, following lobbying pressure from Toyota and Detroit's three major automakers. The White House had significantly eased federal emission regulations, and Congress passed legislation to stop fining vehicle owners who do not meet emission standards.

Bao Bao (according to Reuters)