The U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has filed a lawsuit seeking to block California’s electric vehicle (EV) mandate, according to an announcement from Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and Attorney General Pamela Bondi.
The lawsuit argues that California’s policy effectively imposes state-specific fuel economy requirements on automakers, which federal law prohibits. The federal government contends that regulations related to fuel economy fall under national authority rather than individual states.
At issue is California’s approach to setting emissions and vehicle standards that could require manufacturers to adjust production to meet requirements that differ from federal standards. According to the announcement, federal officials say this could have broader implications for automakers operating across state lines.
The legal challenge also comes as part of a broader federal effort to review and adjust national fuel economy standards. Officials say the lawsuit is intended to address questions about regulatory authority and consistency in vehicle standards across the country.
The original announcement can be found here.