The Progressive

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A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Morgan Folger, Clean Car Communities Campaign Director, 203-343-1736, mfolger@environmentamerica.org
Mark Morgenstein, Director of Media Relations, 678-427-1671, markm@publicinterestnetwork.org

General Motors Commits To All-Electric Car Future

General Motors announced Monday that it plans to immediately withdraw from litigation supporting the Trump administration's effort to block states from setting their own tough tailpipe emissions standards.

WASHINGTON

General Motors announced Monday that it plans to immediately withdraw from litigation supporting the Trump administration's effort to block states from setting their own tough tailpipe emissions standards.

In a letter sent to Environment America and 10 other groups that sued the Trump administration for going the wrong way on clean cars, GM CEO Mary Barra highlighted the company's vision for an all-electric future and expressed confidence that the Biden administration, the state of California and automakers could again find common ground on clean car standards.

In addition to encouraging other auto manufacturers to take similar action, GM outlined its intent to accelerate the consumer adoption of electric cars. GM announced last week that it will launch 30 new electric car models by 2025 and spend $27 billion dollars on electric and autonomous vehicles. It has also announced a $4.2 billion investment to build electric cars in Detroit, Mich. and Spring Hill, Tenn.

Wendy Wendlandt, acting president of Environment America, issued the following statement:

"It is about time that major auto companies such as GM head the right way on clean cars. We cannot address climate change without phasing out gas-powered cars, and GM embracing the promise of electric cars goes in the right direction. With this year's record-breaking hurricane season and some of the hottest temperatures on record, it's increasingly clear we need to act fast to stop burning the fossil fuels that cause global warming.

"This is a victory for Americans from every corner of the country who all deserve cleaner cars and clean air. We hope other automakers will follow the lead of GM, Ford, BMW, Honda, Volkswagen, Volvo and others driving toward the right side of history when it comes to the clean car standards. It's never too late to do the right thing."

With Environment America, you protect the places that all of us love and promote core environmental values, such as clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and clean energy to power our lives. We're a national network of 29 state environmental groups with members and supporters in every state. Together, we focus on timely, targeted action that wins tangible improvements in the quality of our environment and our lives.

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