It’s Not Just GM

Let’s name names: it’s Hyundai, Nissan, Kia, Subaru, Toyota, and other big automakers too

In response to the news that some auto manufacturers are intervening on Trump’s side in the litigation over the validity of California’s car emissions standards, I’ve already seen calls for boycotts.  Why give our money to car companies actively undermining clean air and climate protections?  Especially when they chose a day when California is literally on fire to join the wrong side of the fight?  Even those of us bleary-eyed from smoke can see through their smokescreens.

So if we’re naming names, let’s get it right.  Early media stories have focused on GM, Toyota, and Fiat-Chrysler as the key actors in today’s pro-Trump filing.  But it’s not just them.  Here’s the list of auto companies associated with the filing (bolding mine):

Global Automakers’ automobile manufacturer members include Aston Martin Lagonda of North America, Inc., Ferrari North America, Inc., Hyundai Motor America, Isuzu Motors America, LLC, Kia Motors America, Inc., Maserati North America, Inc., McLaren Automotive, Ltd., Nissan North America, Inc., Subaru of America, Inc., Suzuki Motor of America, Inc., and Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (TMNA).

Also joining as members of a second trade group are:

FCA US LLC (FCA) [Fiat Chrysler], General Motors LLC (GM), Mazda Motor of America d/b/a Mazda North American Operations (Mazda), Mitsubishi Motors North America (Mitsubishi), [and] Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (TMNA)

So that’s your list.

Who’s standing with California? Notably, Honda is a member of the same trade group as the manufacturers listed above but affirmatively opted out of today’s court filing, having already sided with California via an earlier agreement that was also joined by Ford, VW, and BMW. The filing says: “American Honda Motor Co., Inc. is also a member of Global Automakers but has reached an accommodation with California, and this action is therefore not brought on its behalf.”  California’s cohort also presumably includes all-EV manufacturers like Tesla.

Emmett vehicle emissions