WASHINGTON — Ford Motor Co. and the U.S. branches of Volkswagen AG, BMW AG, Honda Motor Co. and Volvo Cars Ltd. are asking to intervene in a federal lawsuit to defend California's power under the Clean Air Act to set its own stringent emissions standards.
It marks the re-entry of major automakers into a fight that divided the industry under former President Donald Trump, who revoked California's waiver allowing it to set its own emissions standards, which are generally more stringent than the federal government and have wide-ranging impact on the U.S. auto industry.
When President Joe Biden came into office, he directed the administration to reverse the decision and in March, the Environmental Protection Agency restored the waiver.
