Craig Segall, former deputy executive officer and assistant chief counsel of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), has warned that major truckmakers are abandoning California’s stricter-than-federal emissions rules, potentially allowing new players to disrupt the market. The strategy, which involves ramping up compliance with the Golden State’s heavy-duty vehicle standards, came to light when four manufacturers sued California regulators over the matter. The Federal Trade Commission declared a voluntary “Clean Truck Partnership” between the companies and the state as “unenforceable.” The lawsuit, filed by Daimler Truck, International Motors, PACCAR, and the Volvo Group, alleged that the federal government had deemed California’s emissions rules “unlawful” in June. Segall described the lawsuit as “an audacious move,” noting that truckmakers just two years ago supported the Clean Truck Partnership, which he helped negotiate. He accused companies like Daimler of “badly letting the trucking industry down” and warned that China is accelerating electric truck adoption. Segall predicted that “giant semitrailers” will make a similar transition soon, creating an interesting opening for competitors like Chinese electric truck startup Windrose.
The introduction of electric about-face technology could potentially open up new opportunities for truck manufacturers. Huong DN 588
