New ad, “Don’t California our cars,” urges Congress to overturn EPA authorization of CA gas car ban

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) is out with a new ad—Don’t California our cars—urging Congress to overturn EPA’s 2024 rule authorizing California’s ban on sales of new gas, diesel and traditional hybrid vehicles. The ad launch coincides with U.S. House of Representatives and Senate introductions of Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions setting up the overturn of EPA’s issuance of a waiver green-lighting California’s Advanced Clean Cars II.  

2024 exit polling showed 67% of voters oppose gas car bans and EV mandates.

“California’s ban on sales of new gas, diesel and traditional hybrid vehicles is unlawful and will impact our entire country. If allowed to stand, millions of Americans will lose the ability to buy the car or truck of their choosing, and all of us will pay a price for this policy in the form of more expensive vehicles, higher electricity costs and compromised U.S. energy security.

“The previous administration waited until after the election to greenlight California’s ban, knowing it was wildly unpopular with the American people. Congress must stand up for consumers, the U.S. economy and national security and use its Congressional Review Act authority to overturn EPA’s power-grabbing attempt to let California tell the rest of the country what we can and can’t drive.”

– Chet Thompson, AFPM President and CEO

Additional information:

• About The California Waiver and the Congressional Review Act
• FAQs on California’s Ban on Sales of New Gas Cars (Advanced Clean Cars II)

Of the dozen states that want to follow California’s ban, none are close to meeting ACCII’s 2026 target of 35% combined EV, fuel cell and PHEV sales. ACCII requires each individual automaker to meet the annual standards. In 2023, “ZEV” sales among incumbent automakers (those who are not pure-play EV manufacturers) were just 13% in California. They were lower in every other state.