California air quality regulators said Tuesday that they plan to develop new vehicle emission rules by summer 2027 as they respond to the Trump administration’s rollback of the state’s electric vehicle sales mandate.
What happened: The California Air Resources Board officially launched its rulemaking on new standards for light-duty vehicles, telling participants during a workshop that the agency plans to release its initial staff report in fall or winter 2026 before bringing a proposal to board members.
Why it matters: The move comes after Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a June executive order directing CARB to start developing new vehicle regulations after Republicans revoked the state’s sales mandates for cars and heavy-duty trucks using the Congressional Review Act.
Attorney General Rob Bonta has sued to restore the Advanced Clean Cars II and Advanced Clean Trucks rules; however, it could take years for judges to resolve the case. Meanwhile, CARB officials have warned that the state — which leads the nation in pollutants such as smog-forming nitrogen oxides — cannot meet federal air standards without new rules and could face sanctions, including the loss of federal highway funding.
