Are $26k Penalties on Automakers Too Much, Too Soon? with Automotive News
Episode 186
Larry Vellequette, Senior Staff Reporter and Columnist at Automotive News is on the show today to talk about California’s bold Advance Clean Cars II (ACC) regulation, demanding all new car sales be zero-emission by 2035, kicking off with a 35% EV mandate in 2026. With California’s EV market share limping at 20-23% and New York’s at a measly 2-5%, automakers are sweating over pricey production, sluggish demand, and tech that kinda feels like it’s stuck in “the bag-phone era.” States like Maryland and Vermont are already wobbling, hinting at delayed penalties or softer rules, as the Detroit Three beg for a breather. Larry and I debate whether this green dream is a visionary leap or a regulatory faceplant, so press play for this spicy take on the bumpy road to an EV future!
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