By Ben Geman | Axios
Four huge automakers — Ford, Honda, VW and BMW — said Thursday that they’ve struck a voluntary deal with California on vehicle emissions rules that they’re hoping will form the basis for a nationwide agreement with the Trump administration.
Why it matters: It signals a break between the companies and the White House as the Trump administration pushes ahead with plans to weaken mileage and emissions standards.
The Trump administration is planning to freeze annual emissions standards increases in 2020, rather than letting them grow stricter as envisioned under Obama-era rules.
The EPA, as part of that plan, would seek to strip California’s special permission under the Clean Air Act to set its own emissions standards that a number of other states follow.
