GM reverses on Trump in pollution fight

DETROIT—GeneralMotorssaysitwillno longer support the Trump administration in legal efforts to end California’s right to set its own clean-air standards.

CEOMary Barra said in a letter Monday to environmental groups that GM will pull out of the lawsuit, and it urges other automakers to do so.

She said the company agrees with President-elect Joe Biden’s plan to expand electric vehicle use. Last week, GM said it is testing a new battery chemistry that will bring electric-vehicle costs down to those of gas-powered vehicles within five years.

Barra sent the letter after a Monday morning conversation with Mary Nichols, head of California’s Air ResourcesBoard, the company said.

The board is the state’s air pollution regulator.

“We believe the ambitious electrification goals of the President-elect, California, and General Motorsarealigned, to address climate change by drastically reducing automobile emissions,” Barra said in the letter.

Nichols called GM’s announcement good news. “I was pleased to be in communication with Mary Barra again,” she said. “It’s been a while since we had talked.”

Dan Becker of the Center for Biological Diversity, one of the environmental groups Barra wrote to, said GM was wrong in trying to stop California from protecting its people from auto pollution.

“Now the other automakers must follow GM and withdraw support for (President Donald) Trump’sattack onclean cars,” hesaid in an email. The White House had no immediate comment Monday.

Ron Klain, Biden’s incoming chief of staff, wroteonTwitterthat heis glad to see the president-elect’s leadership “is already encouraging progress.”

Last year General Motors, Fiat Chrysler, Toyota and10smaller automakers sided with the Trump administration in a lawsuit over whether California has the right to set its own standards for greenhouse gas emissions and fuel economy.