New York

California has said it will stop purchasing new vehicles for the state government fleet from Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp. and other automakers that have sided with President Donald Trump over fuel emission standards.

Starting January, California will stop buying vehicles from companies belonging to the Association of Global Automakers, composed of US auto giant General Motors, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and such overseas makers as Toyota and Nissan Motor.

Those companies said they will support the Trump administration over its decision to revoke California’s legal authority to set own emission standards that are stricter than those set by the federal government.

Aiming to realize a unified US national fuel economy standard, association members said in October they will join a lawsuit filed by California and others over the Trump administration and support the federal government.

Meanwhile, California plans to purchase vehicles from four automakers – Japan’s Honda Motor, Ford Motor Co. of the United States, Germany’s Volkswagen AG and BMW AG – which support the state’s authority to set its own emission standards.

The four companies reached an agreement in July to adopt the emission standards set by the state.

“Carmakers that have chosen to be on the wrong side of history will be on the losing end of California’s buying power,” California Governor Gavin Newsom said Monday on Twitter.

Jiji Press