Virginia Hits the Gas: Governor Youngkin Rejects California’s EV Mandate

 

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has just turbo-charged the state’s automotive future by announcing that the Commonwealth won’t be adopting California’s 2035 ban on new gas- and diesel-powered vehicles.

“For over 20 years, seventeen states have been riding in California’s emissions standards slipstream. But now, nine states have pumped the brakes, rejecting government mandates on what tech American consumers should buy,” said SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola. “Virginia is now the first state to break free from California’s emissions and EV mandates. We give a big thumbs up to Governor Youngkin for this bold move that says California shouldn’t be the co-pilot for nearly half of American consumers. Other states, start your engines and follow Virginia’s lead!”

Back in 2021, under Youngkin’s predecessor, Virginia hitched its emissions wagon to California’s star, including the Golden State’s 100% EV mandate by 2035. SEMA-supported bills to unhook this connection have narrowly missed the finish line in the Democratically controlled legislature.

Youngkin, elected in 2021, campaigned on a promise to ditch California’s standards and doubled down during his 2023 State of the Commonwealth address.

“It’s a no-brainer that in 2021, lawmakers should’ve crafted Virginia’s own electric vehicle laws rather than just following California’s lead,” said Youngkin. “By outsourcing our responsibilities to California, Virginians face a mandate starting in 2024 that restricts and eventually bans buying gas-powered cars and trucks. Unless we steer a new course, Virginia is stuck in California’s lane. Common sense says our laws should be written by elected leaders here, not by radical bureaucrats in California.”

SEMA has been leading the charge in nine states to pass laws and resolutions that block states and local governments from mandating a single vehicle technology. This ensures consumers can choose the vehicle that best suits their needs. SEMA’s efforts have also hit the brakes on California’s ICE ban in Connecticut and Maine earlier this year.

So, buckle up! Virginia is racing ahead with its own game plan, leaving California’s emissions mandates in the dust.

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