Richmond, VA - Governor Youngkin made a groundbreaking announcement today, declaring an end to the California electric vehicle mandate in Virginia, effective at the close of 2024, coinciding with the expiration of California’s current regulations. In an official opinion provided by Attorney General Jason Miyares, following a request by Governor Youngkin and Senate Republican Leader Ryan McDougle, it has been confirmed that Virginia holds no obligation to adhere to the expansive new mandates put forth by the unelected California Air Resources Board (CARB), scheduled to be implemented on January 1, 2025.

Once again, Virginia is declaring independence – this time from a misguided electric vehicle mandate imposed by unelected leaders nearly 3,000 miles away from the Commonwealth.

— Governor Glenn Youngkin (@GovernorVA) June 5, 2024

Emphasizing Virginia's spirit of independence, Governor Glenn Youngkin expressed his stance, stating, “Once again, Virginia is declaring independence – this time from a misguided electric vehicle mandate imposed by unelected leaders nearly 3,000 miles away from the Commonwealth.” He further added, “The idea that government should tell people what kind of car they can or can’t purchase is fundamentally wrong. Virginians deserve the freedom to choose which vehicles best fit the needs of their families and businesses. The law is clear, and I am proud to announce Virginians will no longer be forced to live under this out-of-touch policy.”

Attorney General Jason Miyares also voiced his support, declaring, “Today, I’ve issued an official Attorney General Opinion that confirms that Virginians are no longer legally bound to follow the emission standards of California. EV mandates like California’s are unworkable and out of touch with reality, and thankfully, the law does not bind us to their regulations."

Earlier in 2021, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation enabling Virginia’s Air Board to adopt California’s “Advanced Clean Cars I” regulation under Section 177 of the federal Clean Air Act. However, recent developments from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) have unveiled “Advanced Clean Cars II,” slated to go into effect on January 1, 2025, necessitating 100% of new cars sold in Model Year 2035 to be electric vehicles. The latest opinion from Attorney General Jason Miyares specifies that Virginia is not compelled to adhere to ACC II, thus ensuring alignment with federal emissions standards come January 1, 2025.

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Senator Ryan McDougle, who co-sponsored legislation to repeal CARB’s mandate alongside Senator Richard Stuart, Senator John McGuire, Delegate Lee Ware, Delegate Tony Wilt, and Delegate Buddy Fowler, remarked, “Throughout CARB’s ‘Advanced Clean Cars II’ regulation are references to California Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive orders and the unique environmental circumstances facing California. Virginia’s laws should not be determined by California politicians. Instead, our laws should be decided by Virginians who are elected to serve Virginia and address issues that face our Commonwealth, not a state nearly 3,000 miles away.”

Had the Advanced Clean Cars II regulations been enforced, commencing in Model Year 2026, 35% of new cars sold would have been mandated to be electric vehicles, escalating to 100% by 2035. Failure to comply with California’s mandate could result in a hefty fine of up to $20,000 per non-compliant vehicle sold by an auto manufacturer. Given that electric vehicles accounted for merely 9% of vehicles sold in Virginia in 2023, the application of these mandates could have translated into significant penalties amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars. Such financial burden would have ultimately been shouldered by Virginia auto consumers and dealers, potentially leading to the closure of numerous small auto businesses.

In conclusion, Governor Glenn Youngkin's bold decision to reject the California electric vehicle mandate sets a precedent for prioritizing Virginians' autonomy in choosing their preferred vehicles and shielding them from out-of-touch regulations imposed by distant authorities.

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