California reaches deal with 4 major automakers over reducing vehicle emissions

Following secret talks, four of the biggest automakers in the world have reached an agreement with California regulators regarding vehicle emissions.

Ford Motor Company, Honda, BMW, and Volkswagen of America make up 30 percent of the United States auto market, The New York Times reports, and under the deal, they must increase fuel efficiency so their vehicles reach an average of 51 miles per gallon by 2026. The talks started after the Trump administration announced it would be rolling back the Obama-era standard of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025 to just 37 miles per gallon.

California balked at this and said it would enforce the Obama-era standard, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. The discussions were kept under wraps to lessen the possibility of the deal collapsing, the Times reports, and in a joint statement, the automakers said the agreement provides "much-needed regulatory certainty" and allows them to "meet both federal and state requirements with a single national fleet, avoiding a patchwork of regulations." More companies are expected to join the deal, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said.

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