On June 8, the Minnesota Auto Dealers Association (MADA) announced that it was filing a lawsuit in the Minnesota State Appeals Court challenging the Walz Administration’s adoption of California Car Rules.

“There’s a state law that says one agency can’t write rules for another agency,” stated MADA President Scott Lambert, “and in this case the agency writing the rules for the MPCA is the California Air Resources Board.”

“In addition,” continued Lambert, “under federal rules, Minnesota does not qualify to take up the California Car Rules.”

Under federal law any state wishing to adopt California’s Emission Rules and be governed by the California Air Resources Board must have had a designated geographic area that fails to meet federal air quality standards (known as “non-attainment” areas).  Minnesota has not had a designated non-attainment area for greenhouse gases for over 20 years.

“The administrative law judge that allowed the rule to go forward got this wrong.  Minnesota does not qualify to be in the California program, and the MPCA cannot take orders from an outside agency.”

“The Walz Administration has put Minnesota on a ruinous economic path that will mandate an oversupply of electric vehicles that will far outpace consumer demand and culminate in a complete ban on the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2034.”

“Dealers are all in for the adoption of EVs and are making sizeable investments in their businesses to get ready for an expected increase in demand,” added Lambert, “but they’re making plans based on consumer appetite, not what California dictates.”

“From the start,” concluded Lambert, “we have advocated for a market-driven approach that includes investments in infrastructure and incentives.” 

A copy of the press release can be found here.