US states are suing for sparing the auto industry

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15 US states want to use legal means to reverse a softening of environmental regulations for car manufacturers that was initiated in the last days of the administration of ex-President Donald Trump.

The initiative, led by the attorneys general of California and New York, filed a lawsuit against the NHTSA on Tuesday (local time) to reverse the last minute easing.

This concerns the originally intended fines for car manufacturers whose vehicles are on the road with poor consumption values. Actually, the US Congress had decided to increase the penalties, which the auto industry said it would cost up to a billion dollars a year.

However, this increase was postponed shortly before the change of government in January, despite the fact that courts had repeatedly ruled it illegal.

Trump had for years had an ongoing legal dispute over the softening of environmental rules, especially with the large state of California, which is considered a pioneer in climate protection.

The last-minute decision to postpone the fine increase cemented the legacy of the Trump administration to put industry above public health, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said on Twitter. In the new US administration, Becerra will hold the office of health minister.

Environmental organizations such as the Sierra Club and the National Resources Defense Council had already filed suits against the NHTSA traffic authority before the alliance of states. The authority did not initially provide a statement.

However, the new US President Joe Biden had already announced that various easing of environmental standards for the auto industry ordered by the Trump administration should be reviewed.