HR2165-119

What This Bill Does

The Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act limits how EPA may use Clean Air Act vehicle emissions rules issued on or after January 1, 2021. The bill provides that tailpipe regulations may not mandate the use of a specific technology or result in limited availability of new motor vehicles based on engine type. EPA must revise covered regulations within 24 months after enactment. The practical effect is to block emissions standards that functionally push the market toward electric or other specific technologies by restricting gasoline, diesel, hybrid, or other engine-type availability.

Who Benefits and How

Automobile dealers benefit if EPA rules cannot reduce available vehicle models based on engine type. Internal combustion vehicle buyers benefit from statutory protection for continued availability of new vehicles with different engine types. Automakers with gasoline or diesel product lines benefit from limits on technology-forcing tailpipe regulations. States and consumers preferring broader vehicle choice benefit from a federal rule preventing engine-type availability limits.

Who Bears the Burden and How

EPA must revise covered tailpipe regulations within 24 months and avoid technology-mandating rules. Clean-air regulators lose a tool for using emissions standards to accelerate adoption of lower-emission vehicle technologies. Electric vehicle manufacturers may face reduced regulatory pressure pushing new-vehicle demand toward EVs. Communities exposed to vehicle pollution may lose potential emissions reductions from stricter technology-forcing rules.

Key Provisions

• Bars EPA tailpipe rules from mandating a specific vehicle technology.
• Blocks rules that limit new motor vehicle availability based on engine type.
• Applies to Clean Air Act regulations issued on or after January 1, 2021.
• Requires EPA to revise covered regulations within 24 months after enactment.