In a major setback for clean energy advocates, the U.S. Senate has voted to block California’s bold plan to ban the sale of new gasoline-only vehicles by 2035. This decision comes just months after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under President Joe Biden granted California a waiver to move forward with its zero-emissions vehicle mandate.
California’s plan, which aims for at least 80% of new car sales to be electric by 2035, has already been adopted by 11 other states. Together, these states represent about one-third of the U.S. auto market, signaling just how influential the Golden State’s policy could have been.
The Senate vote now sends the resolution to President Donald Trump for final approval. If signed, it will officially strip California of its authority to enforce stricter emissions standards than the federal government, potentially undoing decades of environmental progress.
Automakers like General Motors, Toyota, Hyundai, Volkswagen, and Stellantis—represented by the Alliance for Automotive Innovation—applauded the decision. These companies have been vocal critics of the California rules, arguing that the targets are simply unrealistic given current electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and consumer demand.
“The fact is these EV sales mandates were never achievable,” said John Bozzella, CEO of the Alliance. “Meeting the mandates would require automakers to divert billions in capital from innovation into buying compliance credits—mostly from Tesla.”
Tesla, which stands to lose financially if other automakers are no longer required to buy its credits, has not issued a public statement on the Senate vote.
This decision follows a string of federal efforts aimed at reshaping EV policy. Just recently, the House passed a bill that would eliminate the $7,500 federal tax credit for new EVs and introduce a $250 annual fee on electric cars to help fund road maintenance. That same bill also includes provisions to roll back emissions standards that encourage EV production.
For environmental groups and California state officials, the Senate’s move is a blow to climate action. The state had already laid out intermediate steps toward its 2035 target, including a rule that 35% of new light-duty vehicles sold in 2026 must be zero-emissions. Automakers argue that such a goal is out of reach, with EVs still making up less than 10% of sales in many of the states attempting to follow California’s lead.
If upheld by the courts, this vote could delay or even cancel planned EV rollouts, potentially reshaping the future of clean transportation in the United States.
