hotrod

U.S. Senate Republicans Flip California’s EV Mandate With a Vote to Nix Waivers

Gasoline forever! Ruling on the Golden State’s smog policies is like a breath of fresh air for hot rods and ICE.

Writer
Hot Rod ArchivePhotographerGetty ImagesPhotographer
000 us senate revokes california ev mandate lead

Five years ago, California governor Gavin Newsom signed the Advanced Clean Cars II Act, an executive order for a ban on new fossil-fueled engines and requirement that all new cars and trucks sold in the Golden State to be “zero-emission” (for all intents and purposes, EVs) by 2035.

AI Quick Summary

The U.S. Senate voted to overturn California's EV mandate, allowing ICE vehicles to continue. The decision, backed by some Democrats, challenges California's emissions rules, protecting the automotive aftermarket and jobs. Governor Newsom plans to sue in response.

This summary was generated by AI using content from this MotorTrend article

Read Next

Shortly after that ruling, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (under President Joe Biden) essentially backed Newsom’s play and took it a step further with a mandate requiring 56 percent of vehicles sold anywhere in the country to be electric by 2032. Needless to say, the decision was not a popular one with performance enthusiasts, including our group here at HOT ROD.

On Thursday, May 22, 2025, Republican members of the U.S. Senate and democratic senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan used the Congressional Review Act (bypasses the 60-vote requirement for beating filibusters) as muscle for their 51-44 vote that negates the “California Waiver,” a law that allowed the state to establish its own, independent—and more stringent—vehicle-emissions regulations for cars. On May 1, the House of Representatives gave its support for the initiative by passing a budget measure to end federal tax breaks for EV purchases.

The bottom line? The measure is being vehemently protested by Newsom (as well as other Democratic lawmakers, environmentalists, and health officials). Along with California attorney general Rob Bonta, he vows the state will sue the Trump administration. Even so, things are looking better than they ever have for ICE, performance-hungry enthusiasts, and hot rods everywhere, but specifically in Southern California (Los Angeles area), the eye of the auto-emissions (smog) storm for more than 60 years.

It’s way too soon to declare victory for our hobby, or that dreaded smog checks are abolished. That’s not what this is. Yet. And a lot more politics must play out. However, the ruling increases optimism that at some point in our future, cars, trucks, and their owners may no longer be subjected to strict California Air Resources Board (CARB) restrictions or face expensive penalties for vehicles having aftermarket modifications.

About the Senate ruling’s impact on the aftermarket (and economy), the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) says one-third of the automotive aftermarket is based on ICE technology. The vote to end California’s national EV mandate and ICE vehicle ban protects $100 billion of annual impact to the nation’s economy and the more than 330,000 American jobs that the policies threatened.

“SEMA thanks the lawmakers from both sides of the aisle who stood up for Americans’ freedom to determine which vehicles are best for them,” SEMA president and CEO Mike Spagnola said.

“We thank those in the nation’s community of automotive enthusiasts and the aftermarket businesses who engaged in the advocacy process, many for the first time, to remind lawmakers that this is the United States of America, not the United States of California,” Spagnola continued. “Congress’ vote gives the nation’s automotive marketplace much-needed stability, which will deliver renewed investment and sufficient resources to aid our industry in doing what we do best: innovating the future of automotive technology.”

President Trump ultimately has the final say on the measure, which is now on the fast track to his desk and expected to receive a signature of approval.

I'm definitely a long time car guy. My love of "all-thingsautomotive" dates back to the early 1960s, shortly after I said the word, "car" for the first time. I feel fortunate that I was able to grow up in the Muscle Car era of the late '60s and early '70s. I immersed myself in reading magazines, and learned everything I could about high-performance from that period, and knew that one day I would work in the performance industry in some way, shape or form. Since graduating from the University of Pittsburgh (with a Bachelors degree in Communications) in 1985, my professional career has included work in network radio and television, Internet/online media, Ford Service, BMW Service, Internet/online automotive data, and my current job; Senior Technical Editor of 5.0 Mustang & Super Fords magazine. The constant in my long career has been "cars;" specifically, 1986-to-present, V-8-powered, Ford Mustangs. I have learned a lot about late-model Mustangs (and I'm still learning), and the position I now hold allows me to share the knowledge I've gained with like-minded Mustang enthusiasts all over the world. Owning, building, modifying and writing about late-model Mustangs has become a true passion for me. A great stop, on a very wild life ride.

Read More

Share

You May Also Like

MotorTrend Recommended Stories