The maker of Jeep, Dodge and Ram follows strict California emissions standards

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Stellantis, one of the world's largest automakers, agreed Tuesday to comply with California vehicle emissions standards that are the nation's strictest and require zero-emission hybrids and plug-in hybrids to make up 68 vehicles. Percentage of new light vehicle sales by 2030.

The move by the company, which makes cars for Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep, was seen as a boost for the Democratic governor. Gavin NewsomIts ambitious policies to reduce global warming. The Biden administration restored the state's authority to set its own standards for vehicle tailpipe pollution in 2022 after former Pres Donald TrumpResolution for Repeal California's authority to set its own limits on automobile emissions. One of Trump's most high-profile actions was to roll back environmental rules that he viewed as too burdensome on companies.

Stellantis now joins four major automakers — Ford, Honda, Volkswagen and BMW — that agreed to follow California's rules in 2019. The Trump administration then launched an antitrust investigation into those companies, but eventually closed it after… Failure to find any violations.

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares called Tuesday's agreement a “win-win solution that is good for the customer and good for the planet” in a statement.

Newsom's office said Stellantis would avoid adding up to 12 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions through 2026, equivalent to emissions from more than 2.3 million vehicles annually.

The company also agreed to spend $4 million on installing electric vehicle chargers in parks and rural areas in California, while Stellantis will spend another $6 million on charging infrastructure in other states that choose to adopt California's rules, Newsom's office said.

“We are all passionately committed to this transformation,” Newsom said. “This is about jobs. This is about economic growth. This is about taking control of one of the next great sectors of the economy.”

Since the 1970s, the federal government has allowed California to set its own rules about how much pollution can come from cars and trucks. These rules are stricter than federal standards because California has the largest number of cars on the road and struggles to meet air quality standards.

California has been aggressive in trying to eliminate pollution from gas-powered cars and trucks, although the Biden administration has not yet given it the authority to impose a ban on the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035.

State regulators have approved rules to phase out the sale of new fossil fuels Cars, Trucks, Trains And Lawn equipment. The railway industry has He sued to block the new rules They say it will force the early retirement of about 25,000 diesel locomotives. But some automakers have pledged to do so Voluntarily follow California's new rulesAvoid lawsuits that may delay its implementation.

California Air Resources Board President Leanne Randolph said deals between the state and automakers to cut emissions will help the auto industry prepare for the transition away from gas-powered vehicles.

“This really allows the industry to ensure how they work with government to achieve a net-zero emissions future,” she said.

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Associated Press writer Adam Beam contributed to this report.

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Austin is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America It is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Austin on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter: @sophieadanna