The House passed the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act, aiming to block an EPA rule seen as a backdoor mandate for electric vehicles.
The rule would require a significant percentage of new vehicle purchases to be electric by 2032.
The Act received bipartisan support, with concerns about affordability, consumer choice, and the impact on the American auto industry. (Trending: Tucker Carlson Reveals ‘Secret’ Project He’s Been Working On For Months)
Critics argue that the rule would increase vehicle costs, limit consumer choice, and benefit China at the expense of American energy security.
“It takes away what we’ve always thought of as one of the most important principles of Americanism, and that’s choice,” Rep. Tim Walberg said.
“The passage of the CARS Act is a massive victory for every consumer and the entire American auto industry.”
“Biden’s mandate has always been unrealistic and a textbook study on how central planning and Bidenomics simply do not work. Mandating EVs has never been a responsible or affordable solution,” Walberg pressed.
“Americans should always have the option to buy whatever car suits them the best and the House has taken a massive step toward ensuring that opportunity still exists,” he said.
“Just last week, nearly 4,000 car dealers sent a letter to the Biden administration asking them to reconsider their EV mandate, citing a lack of demand from consumers. Today, with the passage of the CARS Act, the House showed we’re listening.”
“Auto Innovators does not believe [the proposed standards] can be met without substantially increasing the cost of vehicles, reducing consumer choice, and disadvantaging major portions of the United States population,” said John Bozzella, CEO of Alliance for Automotive Innovation.
“Taken together, the proposed GHG (greenhouse gas) and criteria pollutant standards are so stringent as to set a de facto BEV (battery electric vehicle) mandate,” he added.
“Banning vehicle and fuel technologies based on just one category of emissions is unlawful, illogical and bad for consumers, families and our national security,” American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers Vice President of Government Relations Aaron Ringel said.
“It would trade our hard-earned energy security for dependence on China.”
The legislation is now heading to the Senate, with President Biden indicating a potential veto if it passes.
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