General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and four other automakers were sued by California for making vehicles that contribute to global warming, causing pollution and erosion that costs the state millions of dollars.
The lawsuit filed today in U.S. District Court in Oakland said General Motors, Ford, Toyota Motor Corp., DaimlerChrysler AG, Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co., the six largest automakers in the U.S., have created a ``public nuisance'' by making millions of vehicles that emit huge quantities of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.
The suit, which seeks damages related to pollution, beach erosion and reduced water supplies, is the latest action by California to push businesses and the federal government to address global warming. The legislature approved a measure last month to force utilities to cut emissions, and the state has sued the U.S. for failing to address the effects of global warming.
``Vehicle emissions are the single most rapidly growing source of the carbon emissions contributing to global warming, yet the federal government and the automakers have refused to act,'' said California Attorney General Bill Lockyer in a statement.
California has already targeted carmakers with rules that would require them to lower emissions. The state enacted rules in 2004 that would force them to cut the amount of carbon dioxide and other tailpipe gases by up to 30 percent in cars sold in the state. Several other states have adopted or are weighing similar rules.
Overturn
Edward Cohen, a spokesman for Honda, and Dave Barthmuss, a spokesman for General Motors, didn't immediately return calls seeking comment.
Automakers are suing to overturn these rules. Redesigning cars to address such restrictions would cost the industry billions of dollars, carmakers have claimed, especially in the California market. The state asked a federal court on Sept. 15 to throw the case out. The judge has yet to rule.
California legislators approved the toughest pollution limits in the U.S. last month, requiring utilities, oil refineries and other companies to cut emissions tied to global warming by 25 percent in the next 14 years. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican who is seeking re-election this year, said he supports the measure.
Burning Gasoline
Carbon dioxide is a byproduct of burning gasoline. Car companies say the only way to meet California's emissions rules is to reduce vehicle fuel consumption. They claim the state is trying to regulate fuel economy, or the number of miles a car runs on a gallon of gas, a standard which is set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Automakers including GM, Honda, and Toyota said they are developing so-called fuel-cell cars in response to consumer demand for better fuel economy amid higher gas prices. Fuel cells produce only water vapor as a byproduct.
The lawsuit is California v. General Motors, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California.
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