On August 25, 2022, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) voted to update its rules that 17 other states, including Minnesota, have adopted and must now comply with in order to remain a “clean cars” state. 

The updated low-emission vehicle (LEV) and the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) rules mandate that manufacturers must supply their dealers with an ever-increasing amount of electric vehicles, culminating in a complete ban on the sale of new vehicles powered by gasoline and diesel by model year 2035.

In July of 2021, Governor Walz signed the California LEV-ZEV rules into law for Minnesota, joining the 16 other states that had already done so.  Under federal law,  states that choose to adopt California’s regulations must follow them identically; they cannot amend or alter the rules promulgated by CARB.

“Minnesota’s auto dealers repeatedly requested that Governor Walz delay joining California’s regulatory scheme until we knew whether California would be adopting a ban, which has been in the works since Governor Newsom signed an executive order in September 2020,” stated MADA President Scott Lambert.

The Minnesota Auto Dealers Association is currently seeking relief from the rule in the Minnesota Court of Appeals on behalf of its members.

To view a copy of MADA's press release, click here.