Walberg Issues Statement on Devastating EV Rule
Washington, D.C. -- Congressman Tim Walberg (MI-05) released the following statement after the EPA finalized its proposed rule titled “Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Year 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles”:
"The finalization of this rule is devastating news for Michigan, the auto industry, and American families. After its initial proposal, less than a year ago, thousands in the auto industry have spoken in opposition to this rule because it is unattainable, unaffordable, and unrealistic. After all this feedback from every sector of the auto industry, the only change is a slight adjustment, while keeping the same end goal. Top-down government edicts cannot change the demand of consumers overnight, yet this is exactly the Biden administration's plan. This rule restricts the choices of American consumers and will price millions out of the market, eliminate American jobs, and forever link our auto industry with the Chinese Communist Party.
This rule also leaves insufficient flexibility for more popular fuel-efficient options like hybrids and no room for innovation of future technologies. Simply put, this mandate puts all our eggs in one basket despite startling concerns about affordability, the elimination of American jobs, and national security threats. My efforts to block this unpopular mandate, the CARS Act, passed the House in December, picking up support from some Democrats, and Senators on both sides of the aisle also vocally support the legislation. I'll continue fighting to ensure American families have options, innovators have flexibility, and the future of our auto industry is driven by those in Michigan, not Beijing."
Background
In April 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed rule titled “Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Year 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles.” This rule would set stringent emissions standards for criteria pollutants and greenhouse gasses for these vehicles, and the EPA has projected that due to these aggressive standards, over two-thirds of all new vehicles will be electric by 2032. This proposal has raised serious concerns regarding the accessibility of affordable vehicles for the average American consumer. According to data from Kelley Blue Book, the average price of an electric vehicle was over $17,000 more than the average price of a gas-powered vehicle.
In December 2023, the House passed Walberg's Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act, which would prohibit the Biden administration from implementing aggressive emission standards for light and medium-duty vehicles that limit consumer choice.
On March 20, 2024, The EPA finalized this rule making slight alterations for the implementation period from 2027-2029, but still reaching their initial requirement of two-thirds of all new vehicles being at least partially electric by 2032.