Trump blocks California’s plan to phase out petrol-powered cars, clouding EV future
California had planned to end the sale of petrol-only vehicles by 2035, among other ambitious efforts
US President Donald Trump on Thursday signed resolutions blocking California’s landmark efforts to phase out petrol-powered cars in favour of electric vehicles, a move the state immediately contested in court.
Trump’s action, a rebuke of Democratic climate change policies, comes after the Republican-led Congress revoked the state’s waiver allowing it to set more stringent regulations for cars.
California had planned to end the sale of petrol-only vehicles by 2035, among other ambitious efforts.
During the signing ceremony at the White House, Trump lashed out at the state’s bid as “a disaster for this country” and said the resolutions he was signing would save the industry from “destruction”.
California swiftly sued the Trump administration over the resolutions, with Attorney General Rob Bonta saying: “The President’s divisive, partisan agenda is jeopardising our lives, our economy and our environment”.
“It’s reckless, it’s illegal, and because of it, we’ll be seeing the Trump administration in court again for the 26th time,” he added.