Trump Tells Automakers To Back His Fuel-Economy Standards Or Risk Rolling Out California's Nation Wide

The White House has issued an us-vs.-them challenge to carmakers: Back an administration plan to roll back fuel-economy standards or risk President Donald Trump's wrath by siding with California's stringent emissions requirements.

That message was delivered during a tense conference call between Trump administration officials and auto executives in late February, according to five people familiar with the call who spoke on the condition they not be identified discussing the private conversation.

The administration has terminated months of talks between federal regulators and California officials to maintain a common standard. Automakers have urged the two sides to reach an agreement to avert a legal battle with the state, which covets its unique ability to establish its own emissions rules.

Read Article

Truthy - 3/7/2019 11:30:08 AM

-2 Boost

Why is everything this forward does is a threat? I have never witnessed a more insecure person.

Agent009 - 3/7/2019 12:00:01 PM

0 Boost

He is warning the industry that sitting on the fence can cost them. If they can't choose a side, then he will let California define the rules for the nation rather than fight them. This will cost the automakers dearly.

Right now they are fearful of retaliation from California if the rules are rolled back to save them money.

countguy - 3/7/2019 12:09:42 PM

-5 Boost

lmao, donnie dotard is such a joke.

MDarringer - 3/7/2019 7:11:09 PM

+3 Boost

Says the idiotic, biased, Liberal-Socialist-Fascist dimwit.

rockreid - 3/7/2019 12:58:46 PM

-4 Boost

Trump is way out of his league in many areas, this being one amongst his long list. The facts are that the auto industry is a worldwide industry now and vehicles are designed for worldwide import/export. This means that the stringent fuel standards are becoming more and more common worldwide and auto makers now limit their engine selections in order to realize greater profits more than ever before.

There is nothing Trump can do to roll back fuel standards around the world and in particular the Chinese Government’s push towards EV’s is only causing more R&D funding of battery tech and ICE declines. The smart move is to adopt California efficiency and emission standards and lead the world instead of lagging behind (as usual for the US)

vdiv - 3/7/2019 2:14:38 PM

+2 Boost

Indeed. To add to that 16 other states have already adopted California's emission standards and they are not going back.

MDarringer - 3/7/2019 7:12:38 PM

+1 Boost

"Amongst" is archaic.

PUGPROUD - 3/7/2019 2:58:26 PM

+11 Boost

The man has an effective negotiating style so why change. He rattles others who have a narrower self serving agenda who push but don't like being pushed.

Truthy - 3/7/2019 3:08:23 PM

-4 Boost

I disagree he has an effective negotiating style. What has he accomplished with this threatening style. The world is a more complicated place than NY real estate. How did his style work with North Korea? China? TPP? Nato? He has a long list of failures. I have been a part of many high level negotiations and none have been like this. Obama got the automakers to agree to a nationwide standard by having a panel of industry experts work with them.
I hope Mueller completes this report soon.

MDarringer - 3/7/2019 7:10:04 PM

+4 Boost

This is a brilliant move. The industry either stands up for itself or gets raped by California. Either way it is THEIR choice. AND if they go the California route the UAW will have a massive bloodletting as more and more workers lose their jobs. I absolutely LOVE this.

SanJoseDriver - 3/8/2019 9:37:21 PM

+1 Boost

The regulations are meaningless on both national and CA levels. If they don't invest in EVs now, they're done in 5-10 years... simple as that. They could kill two birds with one stone and invest in the transition now, or throw money and time at fighting something that is inevitable.

Truthy - 3/7/2019 10:27:51 PM

-2 Boost

The industry will wait him out. He has at most 22 months left.