DIAMOND BAR, Calif. — The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) and NTEA – The Work Truck Association filed a federal lawsuit on October 8, 2024, in the U.S. District Court’s Eastern District of California against the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The suit seeks immediate declaratory and injunctive relief to block CARB’s Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulations, which would mandate the use of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) for fleets operating in California.
The lawsuit argues that CARB’s actions exceed both state and federal statutory authority and would negatively impact the automotive aftermarket and work truck industries, which have historically contributed to cleaner vehicle technology through alternative fuels and retrofitting older internal combustion engines (ICE).
The regulations would require all trucks crossing California’s borders, including heavy-duty vehicles and delivery trucks, to be ZEVs, affecting interstate motor carriers and out-of-state businesses. SEMA President Mike Spagnola warned of the economic impact on small businesses, while NTEA President Steve Carey emphasized the need for a more balanced, cost-effective approach to emission reduction.
The organizations contend the ACF regulations violate federal law, state law, and the Constitution’s Dormant Commerce Clause, and seek an injunction to prevent enforcement of the rules. Both SEMA and NTEA stress they are not opposed to electric vehicles but advocate for a technology-neutral approach to achieving lower emissions.
The outcome of the lawsuit will determine whether CARB can enforce these EV mandates and the future of emission regulations in the nation’s largest economy.–News Desk