AG Hilgers sues truck manufacturers for conspiring to force transition to electric trucks

Attorney General Hilgers filed an antitrust lawsuit against some of the nation’s largest heavy-duty truck manufacturers for an alleged plot to stifle the availability of internal-combustion semi-trucks in favor of electric ones. California has imposed a series of regulations designed to essentially eliminate semi-trucks with internal combustion engines. Other states have adopted California’s regulations as well. Rather than push back or simply compete in the marketplace, heavy-duty truck manufacturers colluded to sign an agreement called the “Clean Truck Partnership.” The agreement commits the signatory manufacturers not to oppose additional state-level electric-truck mandates and to restrict output of diesel-powered semi-trucks in lockstep, even if a court rules that the regulations are unlawful.

“Eliminating diesel-powered semi-trucks is practically impossible to accomplish and would impose enormous costs on Nebraska and Nebraska companies. That is why Nebraska sued California officials from issuing an anti-democratic regulation to eliminate diesel-powered semis in their state. Unfortunately, these heavy-duty truck manufacturers, who dominate the market in Nebraska, have agreed to go along with California’s edict—even if Nebraska is successful in overturning the regulation. These manufacturers’ collusion will raise prices, reduce output, increase costs on Nebraskans, and is a classic antitrust violation,” said Attorney General Hilgers.