Bristol Reporter

The ownership of Audi Fall River said Electric Vehicle (EV) mandates adopted by Massachusetts are unrealistic, artificial, and eliminates consumer choice.

“On behalf of our customers, we wholeheartedly support your promise to give back to the American people the choice of what car they can buy,” said a letter sent to Trump by Audi Fall River and 126 other Massachusetts dealerships. “We ask that in addition to addressing the EPA’s de facto battery electric vehicle mandate, you also take away the power of 14 bureaucrats in California to dictate to American consumers that in less than a decade, the only car or truck they can buy will be a battery electric vehicle.”

“Let the consumer decide and a free market reign,” said the letter. “Let the automobile manufacturers and dealers compete on the quality of their product and service to customers – as opposed to selling based on artificial mandates. This will lead to more choices and more affordable options.”

The letter referenced a regulation adopted by the California Air Resource Board (CARB), which the dealership said “mandates one in three vehicles sold this time next year be battery electric.”

That regulation has been adopted by 11 other states, including Massachusetts. Other states adopting the regulation are New York, New Jersey, New Mexico, Maryland, Vermont, Delaware, Rhode Island, Oregon, Colorado, and Washington.

According to the SF Chronicle, California's Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) rule requires that 100% of new passenger vehicles sold in the state be zero-emission by 2035, with interim targets starting at 35% zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sales for the 2026 model year. As of December 2023, twelve other states, including Massachusetts, have adopted these standards, collectively influencing a significant portion of the U.S. auto market. Critics argue that allowing an unelected board in California to dictate vehicle policy nationwide undermines consumer choice and free-market competition.

Despite government incentives and subsidies, electric vehicles (EVs) accounted for only 8.1% of total new car sales in the U.S. in 2024. According to AP News, this indicates that a significant majority of consumers continue to prefer internal combustion engine vehicles due to factors such as higher upfront costs, limited driving range, and insufficient charging infrastructure.

Edmunds reports that the average manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for a fully electric compact SUV was $53,048, while that of a gas-powered compact SUV was $35,722. This price difference makes EVs less accessible for middle-class consumers. Additionally, one-third of U.S. households lack access to at-home charging facilities, particularly in urban and rural areas, creating logistical barriers. The U.S. would need to quadruple its charging infrastructure by 2030 to meet projected demand.