California Adopts Strict New Car Standards, Updates Zero-Emissions Vehicle Mandate

LOS ANGELES—California air quality officials Jan. 27 adopted new standards requiring automobile manufacturers, over the next 13 years, to reduce ozone-forming emissions from cars and light-duty trucks by 75 percent from 2014 levels and put 1.4 million plug-in hybrids, battery electric, and fuel cell vehicles on the road.

Approved 9-0 by the California Air Resources Board, the regulatory package includes a rule to phase in stricter fleet average standards for 2015-2025 model year cars and light-duty trucks to further reduce nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbon emissions, increase engine durability requirements from 120,000 miles to 150,000 miles, and impose new particular emissions ...