California's electric car drive put on blocks by US Senate

US senators on Thursday blocked California's landmark mandate phasing out gas-powered cars, dealing a blow to the state's move towards electric vehicles in a pointed rebuke of Democratic climate change policies.

The Republican-led Senate revoked a waiver instituted under then-president Joe Biden that allowed the Golden State to set aside national pollution standards for cars and set its own more stringent regulations.

But the Senate's rubber stamp of a House-passed bill is likely to be challenged in court, setting up a battle royale between California's left-leaning government and President Donald Trump.

California Governor Gavin Newsom warned Trump's Republicans ahead of the vote against action that would "cede American car-industry dominance to China and clog the lungs of our children."

The West Coast state's San Joaquin Valley and its biggest city, Los Angeles, historically tolerated persistent smog before decades of efforts to clean up the worst air pollution in the country.

Part of that push was a mandate ensuring that a third of new 2026 model cars sold in the state must be zero-emission, rising to two-thirds in 2030 and 100 percent in 2035.

Republicans in Washington argue that this is costly, unworkable and anathema to consumer choice.

"California got special permission from the Biden administration to ban gas-powered cars. Because of their market share, this would impact the entire nation," said right-wing Utah Senator Mike Lee.

"But Gavin Newsom doesn't get to ruin 49 other states."

Republicans argue that the Congressional Review Act gives them the right to overturn California's carve-out on a simple majority vote.

But Democrats say Thursday's move was illegal, as nonpartisan watchdogs including the Government Accountability Office and the Senate Parliamentarian said the CRA could not be applied to waivers.

The Senate has only overruled its parliamentarian a handful of times in since the role was launched in the 1930s.

Trump harshly criticized electric vehicles (EVs) as he sought reelection, despite significant federal funding allocated to projects in Republican districts, where thousands of jobs are expected to be created.

He took aim at the sector as part of his flurry of executive orders on his first day in office in a bid to ensure what he called a "level" playing field for gasoline-powered motors.

But he has not been consistent in his opposition -- even taking time out of his schedule to promote former right-hand man Elon Musk's prestige EV company Tesla at the White House.

US EV sales reached 1.3 million units last year, up 7.3 percent from 2023, according to Cox Automotive's Kelley Blue Book, but automakers have recently scaled back investments, pointing to slowing demand growth.

Source: AFP