Senators Urge Carmakers to Back Calif. Fuel Economy Plan

Thirty U.S. senators are asking 13 carmakers to throw their support behind a California proposal to raise average fuel economy 28% between 2021 and 2026, The Detroit News reports.

So far, only BMW, Ford, Honda and Volkswagen have backed the voluntary California plan, which was negotiated through direct talks with the California Air Resources Board. The four carmakers have pledged to hike their average fuel economy by 3.7% per year from 2021 levels through 2026. The scheme would give them extra credit for selling electrified vehicles.

The CARB plan defies the Trump administration’s aim of freezing currently scheduled gains in fuel economy targets at 2021 levels through 2025. Earlier talks between the regulators ended in January after the Trump administration declared that California had failed to offer a “productive alternative” to the freeze.

This week’s letter was sent to Aston Martin, Daimler, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, General Motors, Hyundai-Kia, Jaguar, Mazda, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Toyota and Volvo.

The News notes that Michigan’s two Democratic senators, Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow, were not signatories of the letter.