– Tesla has urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) not to weaken existing vehicle emissions standards, setting itself apart from major automakers that have pushed for looser rules.
The request comes as President Donald Trump signaled skepticism of climate change in remarks at the United Nations General Assembly, according to media reports.
In a letter to the agency, Tesla also asked regulators to preserve the Endangerment Finding, a 2009 legal foundation for many environmental policies including emissions standards.
The EPA opened a comment period in August on proposals to roll back such measures. Agency administrator Lee Zeldin has argued that the changes would reduce regulatory burdens.
Tesla has long promoted its mission to advance sustainable energy, but the company also stands to benefit financially from stricter emissions requirements. Automakers that fail to meet fleet emissions targets are required to purchase regulatory credits from companies such as Tesla, generating significant revenue for the electric carmaker.
While backing the current rules, Tesla has indicated it is willing to support efforts to streamline how the standards are applied, in order to ensure they remain in place.
