Sept. 29, 2020—SEMA has taken up a position against California Gov. Gavin Newsom's executive order banning the sale of new electric vehicles by 2035.
A press release from the organization decries a "lengthy regulatory process, including legal, economic, and environmental analyses, public comment and hearings" that it says will come as part of the initiative.
“SEMA is deeply disappointed in Governor Newsom’s decision to escalate his ongoing feud with the Trump Administration at the expense of the consumer and California’s small businesses,” said Daniel Ingber, SEMA vice president of government and legal affairs, in the release. “SEMA will work with the industry and enthusiasts in opposing the governor’s proposal on all fronts.”
Newsom's order stands out among states and would only affect the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles. Those that are already owned would continue to be allowed on the roads.
SEMA cited information from the California Energy Commission saying that 2 percent of all vehicles currently in California are EVs.
