California has filed a lawsuit against four major truck manufacturers — Daimler Truck North America, International Motors, Paccar, and Volvo Group North America — accusing them of breaking their commitment to the Clean Truck Partnership, a 2023 agreement that aimed to advance the state’s clean-air goals.
The California Attorney General’s Office, led by Rob Bonta, filed the case on October 27 in Alameda County Superior Court. The lawsuit claims the companies are failing to comply with the state’s emissions requirements, which they had previously agreed to follow under the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
What the Clean Truck Partnership Is
- Signed in 2023, the partnership included the four manufacturers and the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA).
- In exchange for extra time to meet certain emissions limits, the companies agreed to sell more zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in California.
- The deal was designed to support California’s push toward a zero-emission future for commercial vehicles.
However, this arrangement became complicated when President Donald Trump issued an executive order in June 2025, revoking California’s EPA waiver, which had allowed the state to set its own emissions standards.
The Legal Dispute
- The manufacturers argue that California no longer has the authority to enforce the Clean Truck Partnership.
- They also say the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered them to stop complying with CARB regulations, calling them “invalid and unlawful.”
- As a result, the companies claim they are stuck between conflicting federal and state rules.
In their complaint, the OEMs said they are in an “impossible position”:
- Following CARB’s rules could mean violating federal law.
- Following federal orders could result in fines, market exclusion, and loss of state incentives.
California’s Response
Attorney General Rob Bonta argues the companies are still bound by contract and that stopping compliance harms California’s environmental goals.
- “The benefits CARB bargained for — cleaner air and emissions reductions — can’t be replaced with money,” Bonta said.
- CARB claims the companies’ actions directly threaten progress toward cleaner air and public health.
CARB Chairwoman Lauren Sanchez added that the federal government’s actions are blocking California from meeting its air quality standards:
- “It’s a deliberate catch-22 that hurts communities already suffering most,” she said.
- Sanchez reaffirmed the state’s commitment: “We won’t back down. We’ll keep fighting for clean air and healthy communities.”
The case is scheduled for a court hearing on November 21.
Industry Reaction
Trucking and logistics leaders have criticized California’s strict clean-air mandates, calling them unrealistic and damaging.
- Chris Spear, president of the American Trucking Associations (ATA), praised the federal government for rolling back the state’s emissions authority.
- He said these rules were “detached from reality” and would have caused severe economic harm to businesses and families.
As the dispute continues, truck manufacturers remain caught between California’s aggressive climate goals and federal efforts to curb state-level environmental control — a legal and political battle that could shape the future of trucking in America.
Source:
https://www.ttnews.com/articles/california-sues-oem-emission
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