Petroleum and ag industry groups, dealerships mount legal challenge to Biden’s EV mandate

The Biden administration faces yet another legal challenge to its climate agenda. 

The American Petroleum Institute (API), the nation’s largest industry group, filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against the Environmental Protection Agency over its vehicle emission standards, which are often referred to as an electric vehicle mandate. 

“Today, we are taking action to protect American consumers, U.S. manufacturing workers and our nation’s hard-won energy security from this intrusive government mandate,” API senior sice president and general counsel Ryan Meyers said in a statement. 

The lawsuit argues that the EPA exceeded its congressional authority with this regulation, which will eliminate most new gas cars from the U.S. market in the coming decade. 

“We look forward to making our case in court,” Meyers said. 

The complaints were reportedly made in two separate filings. 

In its lawsuit, the API is joined by agriculture groups and a group of auto dealers. The American Farm Bureau argues that American farmers grew corn and other crops used in renewable fuels, and the emission standards are effectively pulling the rug out from their business. 

Over 5,000 dealerships have signed onto a campaign against the mandates after their sales lots filled up with cars that customers weren’t buying.