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• Air India converts a part of its Airbus order into XLRs and orders 30 Boeing narrowbodies

  Air India announced on Thursday that it has ordered 30 Boeing narrowbody jets and converted a part of its A321neo A321XLR order with Airbus into 15 long-range A321XLR aircraft, adding momentum to Air India's turnaround effort. The announcement at India's Civil Air Show in Hyderabad is an unusual bright spot for?the formerly state-owned carrier, which has been under regulatory scrutiny since a deadly crash occurred last year?and after a series of safety lapses. Air India has ordered 20 737 MAX 8, and 10 737 MAX 10, from Boeing. This brings its total order with the U.S. planemaker to 250. Boeing stated that the purchase is an exercise of options already in place. Air India, IndiGo's rival airline in India, is now the second Indian carrier to purchase the long-range aircraft after Air India. Airbus has said that deliveries of 15 XLRs will take place between 2029 and 2030. Air India ordered 250 Airbus aircraft and 220 Boeing in 2023, after being purchased by Tata Group last year from the Indian Government. Air India ordered additional Airbus aircraft in the year 2024. Air India will be able to expand its long-haul routes by adding the XLR, Airbus’ longest-range single aisle jet. Air India must secure new aircraft to counter years of underinvestment and regain market share from global competitors. Last year, it was reported that Air India had been in discussions with two aircraft manufacturers to purchase up to 300 new planes, including 200 narrowbodies. Reporting by Kashish Tandon, Nandan Mandayam and Abhijith Gaapavaram; editing by Mrigank Diwala, Mark Potter

• Airbus anticipates that Indian airlines will triple their fleets in the next decade

  Airbus announced on Thursday that it expects Indian airlines to triple the size of their fleets, to 2,250 aircraft, over the next decade. This is due to a resilient economic growth and an expanding middle class, as well as a surge in first-time flyers. Boeing's Wednesday outlook for India and South Asia projected that the airlines in this region, which is a major battleground between Airbus and Boeing, will require 3,300 new planes by 2044. IndiGo and Air India, the two largest domestic carriers in India, are closely watching the regional forecasts of the aircraft manufacturers. India is the world’s?third largest aviation market, after the United States, China and Japan. Airbus' president and managing director for India & South Asia, Mr. Jurgen Westermeier said that India's aviation industry is still in its infancy, with trips per capita amounting to only 0.13 - far below other comparable regions. In a forecast made on the second of India's biennial air show for civil aviation, he said that there is still room for many more Indians adopting air travel. Westermeier, speaking of the landmark India-EU deal this week, said that "some services in the aerospace sector will benefit from the reduction of?tariffs." India is the world's fastest growing domestic aviation market. It has mirrored an international rush for large aircraft as carriers expand their capacity, re-tire fuel-hungry older planes, and respond to booming demand after COVID-19. Indian carriers placed some of the largest jet orders in recent times. They ordered at a level intended to boost fleet growth as opposed to mature markets that were primarily interested in replacing older planes. Airbus maintained its position as the largest planemaker in the world last year, despite challenges brought on by supply chain bottlenecks, engine shortages and tariff pressures.

• Shares rise as Amazon's volume reduction accelerates; UPS will eliminate 30,000 additional jobs

  United Parcel Service, the largest package delivery company in the world, announced on Tuesday that it will close 24 additional facilities and eliminate up to 30,000 positions by 2026. This is due to its ongoing shift towards a'more profitable business. In midday trading, shares of the company rose 4%. The company also announced fourth quarter results that exceeded Wall Street expectations and forecasted a surprise increase in annual revenue. FedEx shares gained 2.6%. Carol Tome, CEO of the company, said in a conference with analysts that the company plans to reduce Amazon deliveries. "We are now in the last six months of the Amazon accelerated glide-down plan. For the entire year 2026, our intention is to glide down an additional million pieces each day, while reconfiguring our network." UPS in January Last year It said that it would speed up a plan to cut millions of low-profit delivery for the online retailer. The company, which is its biggest customer, and a growing rival in the delivery business, called the business "extraordinarily dilution" to the margins. UPS and FedEx are struggling to meet the demand for delivery services. UPS will eliminate 48,000 jobs in 2025. They'll also launch a?driver-buyout program and close 93 buildings, as Amazon's volume declines. The job cuts this year will be made through attrition, and a second buyout offer to full-time drivers. Chief Financial Officer Brian Dykes stated that layoffs were not planned. UPS's 2024 annual report stated that it had approximately 490,000 workers, with 78,000 of them in management. The 2025 employment figures were not immediately available. UPS's workforce is unionized. The CFO stated that many of the reductions will be due to not filling positions when part-time employees leave the company. Separately the company is working on stabilizing volumes after the end of U.S. Duty-Free, "de minimis", low-value e-commerce from major China-linked retailers like Shein or Temu. The company forecast revenue in 2026 of $89.7 Billion, up from $88.7 Billion in 2025. According to data compiled and analyzed by LSEG, analysts on average expected revenues of nearly $88 billion. UPS's revenue is expected to drop in the first half as it finishes the Amazon "glide down," and then increase sequentially in second half once the reductions have been completed. HOLIDAY QUARTER QUARTER BEAT In the peak holiday shipping period, which runs from late November to early January, parcel carriers' average daily volumes can easily double. Companies often add seasonal surcharges. UPS reported consolidated fourth-quarter revenue of $24.5billion,?overestimates of $24billion. UPS's adjusted profit for the quarter ending December 31 was $2.38, above estimates of just $2.20. Evercore ISI analyst Jonathan Chappell stated that "UPS?generated another quarter beat, primarily by (revenue per item) upswing in domestic and international markets, continuing the better than expected pricing theme of the past few quarters." CFO 'Dykes' said that, excluding Amazon, peak-season?volumes were mixed. Small and medium businesses performed better than expected, while large retailers did not perform as well. He said, "We were down from last year a little." The company's U.S. segment revenue per piece rose 8.3%, despite a lower volume. International revenue per piece increased 7.1% as a result of its shift to higher-margin shipments. UPS said that it would retire its remaining MD-11 cargo jet fleet, which consists of over two dozen aircraft, by the end 2025. This is an acceleration of a plan already in place. This was after a deadly crash. One MD-11 is scheduled to be delivered in November. Boeing 767 replacements are scheduled to be delivered. UPS recorded an after-tax non-cash charge of $137 millions related to the MD-11 fleet.

• As tensions over Iran escalate, airlines reroute and cancel flights

  As tensions between Iran and the United States escalate, airlines have been rerouting or cancelling flights in the Middle East. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the U.S. was sending an "armada", towards Iran. Senior Iranian officials Friday Iran will treat an attack as "an all-out battle against us" ahead of the arrival of the U.S. aircraft carrier strike group in the Middle East and other assets. On January 16, the European Union's aviation regulator advised its airlines to stay away from Iran's airspace, as tensions grew over Tehran's violent crackdown on anti-government protests and U.S. intervention threats. Air France KLM, the Dutch subsidiary of Air France KLM, said that Airline KLM would avoid flying over large parts of the Middle East 'until further notice' due to the rising tensions in the region. A KLM spokesperson stated that, as a precaution due to the geopolitical climate, KLM would not fly in the airspace of Iran and Israel, nor will it fly over several countries within the Gulf region. Air France Air France resumed its service from Paris to Dubai after it was suspended a day earlier. The airline said that they were monitoring the situation "in real-time" in the Middle East. Air France said that it "continually monitors" the geopolitical conditions of the countries served by its aircraft and those overflew. LUFTHANSA Lufthansa announced on January 14 that it will bypass Iranian and Iraqi Airspace until further notice and only operate day flights between January 14-19 to Tel Aviv or Amman. In a press release issued that same day, the company said some flights may be cancelled as a result. BRITISH AIRWAYS British Airways suspended its flights to Bahrain temporarily on 16 January as a precautionary step. The airline said it "continued to closely monitor the situation in the area". On January 24, flights to Bahrain were again available on the BA website. A spokesperson for the carrier said that all of its scheduled flights would be carried out. FINNAIR Finnair announced in a statement on 16 January that it has stopped flying over Iraqi airspace and is instead traveling to Doha or Dubai via Saudi Arabia. For security reasons, the carrier avoided Iranian, Syrian and Israeli skies. WIZZ AIR A spokesperson for Wizz Air said that in January, the company avoided Iraqi airspace and Iranian airspace. The representative explained that some flights departing from Dubai or Abu Dhabi will be required to stop in Larnaca (Cyprus) or Thessaloniki (Greece) for refueling and crew changes. (Compiled by Jan Harvey, with additional reporting from Leigh Thomas and Michael Holden at London and Paris; editing by Sharon Singleton).

• Dutch airline KLM avoids Middle East because of rising tensions

  Air France KLM, the Dutch airline arm of Air France Group, said that KLM would avoid flying over a large part of the Middle East until further notice because of the 'increasing tensions. KLM didn't specify what prompted?the decision. The fear of a war between the United States and Iran is growing after U.S. president Donald Trump ordered the deployment?of an aircraft carrier strike group?and other military assets to the Middle East. On Friday, a senior Iranian official stated that Iran would consider any attack as "an all-out war" against the United States. KLM's spokesperson stated that, as a precaution due to the geopolitical climate, the airline will not fly through the airspaces of Iran, Iraq, and Israel, nor will it fly over several countries in the Gulf region. The spokesperson said that "KLM will not fly to Dubai, Riyadh Dammam, Tel Aviv and Tel Aviv" until further notice. (Reporting and editing by Bart Meijer)

• AirAsia is close to a deal with Airbus to buy around 100 A220 aircraft, according to sources

  Airbus is close to a deal with AirAsia to sell 100?A220 narrowbody jets, marking AirAsia's first venture into regional aircraft. Sources, who asked not to be identified, said that if confirmed, a deal, including options, for about 50 additional aircraft could be announced in the next few days, as Asia's biggest low-cost airline pursues a turnaround. Both companies declined comment. AirAsia's spokesperson stated that they had no news to announce at the moment. The first discussions to become the exclusive buyer of a high-density 160-seater version?of Airbus' A220 appeared ahead of the Paris Airshow last year. Brazil's Embraer was also competing for the chance to break Airbus’ exclusive hold on AirAsia. Airbus redoubled its efforts last week to reach a deal with AirAsia, which could be reached as soon as this month. AirAsia, with over 350 jets of the larger A320 family already ordered, is one of the biggest customers for European planemakers. In July, it ordered 50 A321XLR long-range aircraft. AirAsia's co-founder Tony Fernandes said in June that the airline is ready to expand its fleet, by selecting smaller planes for new destinations. Farouk kamal, the deputy CEO of Group?, said that AirAsia continues to work with aircraft manufacturers for regional-type planes, and is considering ordering 150 more jets. AirAsia has led the boom of low-cost carriers across the region over the last two decades as incomes have risen. Capital A's parent company was crippled by pandemic travel restrictions, which led Malaysia's stock market to declare it 'financially distressed' in a measure called PN17. Fernandes, the CEO of Capital A said that in a Friday statement, the group has completed its PN17'regularisation plans and is "working towards the uplift". Capital A will focus on reviving the finances of its airline, AirAsia X. The consolidation of all AirAsia branded aviation businesses into AirAsia X allows AirAsia to concentrate on expanding operations while reducing costs. (Reporting and editing by Susan Fenton; Additional reporting by Danial Azar; Reporting by Tim Hepher)

• Aircraft Lessors Maintain Stable Course as Risks Accumulate

  Investors may be worried by the transatlantic rift, but aircraft leasing giants who own more than half of the world's fleet are confident that their industry is stronger than ever. The leasing industry, which has a tariff-free status on most aircraft and the ability to move assets cross-borders, as well as its past experience, should be able to protect it from a world that is rapidly changing, said leasing bosses at their annual meeting. Renters, resale value and profits are supported by a backlog of Boeing and Airbus orders. Supplies are also limited due to industrial problems. Tom Baker, CEO at Aviation Capital Group, said that despite global volatility, the aviation industry has been "shockingly steady". "The lack of available aircraft has, for better or for worse, put guardrails around this cycle." SMBC Aviation CEO Peter Barrett stated that risks have increased but the industry is absorbing them. "Is the risk higher? He said it felt like that, if not different then certainly more. "(But) The industry has done a good job managing geopolitical risks." BURNT BY OLD CRISES The industry has made mistakes before. It was burned by the Asian Financial Crisis, 9/11, COVID-19, and Russia's refusal to return stranded planes after its invasion of Ukraine. Some caution was added, but some pointed out that the investment horizon of jets is decades long and should help smooth any downturn. Firoz Tarapore, CEO of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), told the Airline Economics Conference in Dublin that it would take some time to determine if these knee-jerk responses (by the U.S. Administration) become chronic. "The disruption caused by the largest economy in the World is something you can't just dismiss as a sneeze that will disappear." CONSOLIDATION TO CONTINUE Lessors who have large order books are now separated from those that don't. CEOs warn smaller firms to find a niche and grow if they want to survive. Last year, SMBC Aviation acquired Air Lease Corp. in the United States. Sources said this week that Steven Udvar Hazy, the 80-year old chairman of Air Lease and one of its founders, is considering a new venture. Hazy declined to comment. Avolon CEO Andy Cronin stated that barriers to entry are increasing, due to balance-sheet requirements, order-book size and the requirement for a "strong credit rating". He said, "This journey is more difficult today without a sovereign fund or large bank to support you." Avolon, SMBC, and AerCap all have offices in Dublin within walking distance from each other and manage together 15% of the global fleet. Cronin stated that "consolidation has some way to go." Sources said that all eyes are on the sale Macquarie AirFinance, with DAE AviLease and Qatar's Lesha Bank as the final contenders. Macquarie declined comment, and none of the prospective buyers responded immediately. Baker from ACG, who is expecting to be one of the last big lessors standing, says that the market boom offers an opportunity to owners of lessors. He said: "If you cannot commit capital, return capital or grow, it is only a question of time until your sponsors say thank you, this has been a wonderful experiment and it's now time to move forward." (Sabrina Valle, Dan Catchpole, and Allison Lampert contributed additional reporting. Padraic Halpin is the author. Mark Potter (Editing)

• Trafigura wins $600 Million Nickel Fraud lawsuit against Gupta

  Trafigura has won its London case against Indian businessman Prateek?Gupta regarding fake nickel cargoes on Friday. The High Court of London ruled in favor of the commodities 'trader. Trafigura, a Geneva-based company, claimed that Gupta and his companies were the masterminds of a fraudulent Ponzi scheme??in which they agreed to deliver high-quality nickel 99.8% but instead delivered low-value materials or even worthless ones. Gupta acknowledged he didn't deliver high-grade Nickel cargoes, but claims Trafigura staff designed the scheme. Former Trafigura head nickel trader Sokratis Oikonomou had denied this in his testimony given in November. Judge Pushpinder Saini ruled Trafigura had been induced into contracting "by false and fraudulent representations" by Gupta?and his firms. The judge said that Trafigura's ex-employees, including Oikonomou were "totally innocent" of any wrongdoing. Trafigura's spokesperson said that the ruling was "comprehensively in Trafigura's favor and acknowledges the systematic fraud committed by Mr Gupta, and the corporate defendants". The spokesperson said, "We are continuing to pursue Mr Gupta's recovery." An attorney who represented Gupta didn't immediately respond to our request for comment. The court records show that the law firm who represented Gupta during his trial has no longer represented him. No real defence Trafigura received its first complaints in November 2022 about the cargoes that it sold. The trial concluded in December. Trafigura carried out additional inspections and?booked a $590-million charge. It then sued Gupta's companies in February 2023, for what they called "systematic fraud". Trafigura claimed during the trial that Gupta was a fraudster with a long history and accused him to siphon off funds from his struggling businesses. Gupta said Trafigura had devised a "complex merry go round of transactions" that appeared to boost its position in nickel trading. He gave his evidence remotely from Dubai. His lawyers claimed that the scheme involved more than 500 trades worth $3.3 billion. Trafigura's attorneys said that this was "simply an effort to explain the admitted fraudulent and described Gupta’s evidence as "implausible and inconsistent... and plainly unbelievable". Saini stated in his decision that Mr Gupta "decided to 'go on the attack' and invent the story of the agreement" because he had no defence against the fraud claim. (Reporting and editing by William James and Elaine Hardcastle; reporting by Sam Tobin)

• President says that Panama ports will continue to operate without interruption after the CK Hutchison decision

  Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino stated?on Friday? that ports will continue to operate in the 'country despite a?Supreme Court ruling which annulled key port contracts by a Hong Kong-based subsidiary, CK Hutchison. The future of some key ports near the Panama Canal is still unclear after the ruling made on Thursday. Mulino stated that APM Terminals Panama (a Maersk subsidiary) has expressed a willingness to temporarily takeover the operation of the Balboa & Cristobal terminals, after a period of transition during which the current operator will remain. He stated that he has had discussions with multiple companies. Mulino stated during a recent press conference that he instructed the Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) to immediately meet with the Panama Ports Company in order to coordinate 'next steps. Mulino stated that there would be no?layoffs. The decision comes amid an increasing U.S.-China competition over global trade routes and is seen as "a victory for Washington" where President Donald Trump has been pushing to 'curb Chinese influence on the Panama Canal which carries 5% of all global maritime trade. Reporting by Elida Moreno and Aida Pélaez-Fernandez, Editing by Sarah Morland

• Singapore's Aviation Showcase will reflect the region's growth and defence ambitions as well as its uncertainties.

  Asia's premier aerospace event will feature planes, weapons and parts as the industry struggles to balance increasing demand for air travel while juggling geopolitical issues and chronic supply shortages. The biennial Singapore Airshow is next week as the Southeast Asian city state and its neighbouring countries consider China's continued build-up of arms in the region, while also looking over their shoulders at an increasingly isolationist United States. The Royal Australian Air Force's Lockheed Martin F-35 jet fighters will make their show debut as Singapore awaits the first deliveries. However, some analysts question how much damage has been done to the alliances that support such programmes. "The main issue is how will Asian nations assess the U.S. defense commitment to the region," Byron Callan said, managing partner of research firm Capital Alpha Partners. The Asia's largest Air Show, which takes place from February 3-8, is expected attract over 1,000 companies, including aircraft manufacturers, airliners, arms firms, and military delegations, from all around the globe. Security analysts and executives in the industry expect that its defence segment will attract significant interest as military budgets increase across Asia-Pacific due to increasing geopolitical tensions. As countries look to improve their defences, they will invest in technologies such as drones, missile defence systems, and counter-drones. FLEETS OF AIRLINES EXPANDING The show comes at an important time for the civil aviation industry. The airlines are trying to consolidate their recovery from the pandemic and expand fleets, while manufacturers continue to struggle with supply chain bottlenecks. Subhas Menon of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines said that fleet expansion in?the Asia-Pacific will remain "robust" despite supply chain bottlenecks. Southeast Asia and India will lead the growth, but he warned that "protectionism?and trade friction mean there are no easy solutions" to long-standing supply problems. Airbus and Boeing are facing increasing challenges to their duopoly. COMAC, a Chinese company, is competing for attention with the C919 passenger plane it has developed in-house. The C919 will be making a second appearance after dominating headlines last year. Adam Cowburn of Alton Aviation Consultancy, the managing director, said that people will watch COMAC with great interest. Their early success outside China was largely a Southeast Asian tale. It will be interesting to see how this story develops at the airshow, or over the next year. COMAC, while attempting to establish itself as an alternative to the Airbus/Boeing duopoly in Southeast Asia, remains heavily dependent on smaller airlines in Cambodia, Brunei Laos Vietnam and Indonesia. The C919 narrow body and the smaller C909 Regional Jet are two of its existing models. They lack Western certification, which limits their appeal to markets that are closely aligned to China. COMAC, like other manufacturers, has fallen short of its delivery targets due primarily to supply chain issues. They deliver far fewer planes in one year than Boeing or Airbus do in a month. Cowburn stated that the gap was substantial. Social media pictures showed that COMAC had unveiled the first major variant of its C919 aircraft, a reminder of its commercial ambitions. Air Current, a trade publication, reported that the shortened 140-seat version, which is designed for plateau areas like the Tibetan capital of Lhasa and other highlands, was first seen outside COMAC’s factory on 21 January. COMAC is also planning a longer stretched version. Brazil's Embraer, which announced a new assembly line for India, the fastest-growing aviation industry in the world, will also showcase its regional jets. This year, sustainability will be a major theme at the event. The transition to cleaner energies is not without its challenges. "SAF has also been caught up in supply chain, protectionionism, and trade barrier issues." Menon added that traditional fuel suppliers had not taken the necessary steps to transition away from fossil fuels. He also said that older fleets were limiting efficiency gains. Reporting by Tim Hepher, Joe Brock and Julie Zhu from Paris; Additional reporting by Greg Torode from Hong Kong. Editing by Jamie Freed.

• Trump says US decertifying Bombardier Global Express until Canada certifies Gulfstream

  Donald Trump announced on Thursday that the U.S. was decertifying Bombardier Global Express jets, and threatened to impose 50% tariffs on imports of other aircraft manufactured in?Canada?until it certified a number planes produced by U.S. competitor Gulfstream. In a Truth Social post, Trump stated that Canada effectively prohibited the sale of Gulfstream Products in Canada by using this same certification process. If this situation does not change immediately, I will charge Canada a tariff of 50% on all aircraft that are sold to the United States of America. Airbus A220 commercial aircraft made in Canada and Bombardier Global Express were among the planes that Trump increased tariffs on. FlightRadar24 reported on X that there were over 400 Canadian-made aircraft operating between U.S. airports and Canadian airports at about 1100 GMT on Friday. Cirium, a data provider, said that there were 150 Global Express registered aircraft in U.S. service operated by 115 operators. Bombardier and General Dynamics' Gulfstream?, as well as the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office, did not respond immediately when asked to comment. Trump claimed that Canada refused to certify Gulfstream 500 jets, 600 jets, 700 jets, and 800. The Federal Aviation Administration and European Union Aviation Safety Agency both certified the Gulfstream G800 in April. Transport Canada, the Canadian certification authority, didn't respond to an immediate request for comments. It was unclear how Trump could decertify the planes as that is the Federal Aviation Administration's job. However, he made similar statements in the past, which were carried out by the relevant agencies, usually with exemptions. The Federal Aviation Administration has the power to revoke plane certifications. It is not known what this would mean for American plane owners or if it would stop them from flying in the United States. The FAA has the power to revoke an aircraft's certification if it is deemed unsafe. The FAA refused to comment immediately. CERTIFICATION PROCESS According to global aviation regulations, the country that designed the aircraft - in Gulfstream's instance the U.S. - is responsible of the primary certification, also known as a "type certificate", which certifies the safety of the design. Other countries usually validate the decision of the primary regulator and allow the plane to enter their airspace. However, they have the right refuse or request more information. After the Boeing 737 Max?crisis European regulators delayed the endorsement of certain U.S. certifications decisions and demanded further design changes. This caused tensions with FAA. Carney denied on Tuesday that he had retract?comments which irritated Trump and claimed that almost nothing is normal in the United States. Carney cited U.S. Trade Policy last week to urge nations to accept that the rules-based world order Washington once championed is over. Carney wants to diversify the trade to avoid the U.S. tariffs that are imposed on Canadian imports. The U.S. takes 70% of Canadian exports as part of the U.S., Mexico, Canada free trade agreement. In December, the FAA certified Bombardier’s Global 8000 Business Jet, the fastest civilian aircraft since Concorde, with a top-speed of Mach 0.95 or approximately 729 mph (1173 kph). Transport Canada certified it on November 5. Reporting by Bhargav Asharya, Toronto; David Shepardson, Washington; Jasper Ward, Montreal; and Tim Hepher, Paris. Editing by Jamie Freed).

• California's top air regulator: Trump's tax credits and EV regulations are being accelerated, but the state is still opposing them.

  California officials will meet Detroit automakers to discuss the next phase in greenhouse gas regulations for vehicles and trucks this week, according to the top air regulator of the state. California is 'fighting President Donald Trump in the courts and the U.S. Congress to undo landmark federal vehicle emission standards. Lauren Sanchez, Chair of the California Air Resources Board said that Governor Gavin Newsom will announce next week details of a $200 million electric vehicle incentive program. The program is intended to fill the gap created by Trump's budget bill that eliminated federal tax credits on new electric vehicles last year. Sanchez stated, "We are speeding up our work to develop zero-emissions cars, and we understand that we must navigate a managed shift that protects the community, the environment, as well as workers, in collaboration with industry." Ford Motors and Stellantis have not yet commented. GM confirmed that it would be meeting with CARB on Thursday in Detroit. It said it had a "long history of dialogue and cooperation with CARB", and added, "California is the fourth largest economy in the World and an important market for innovation and growth." California has been a leader in the country's dirty air for decades. California has set the standard for other states in the U.S. by establishing rules to reduce pollution. California has the exclusive authority under the federal Clean Air Act from?1970 to request waivers to the Environmental Protection Agency to set emission standards that are more stringent than federal standards. Congress has revoked California waivers that were intended to boost zero-emissions cars after the Detroit Three successfully lobbied Congress and the White House in favor of significant relief from California emission regulations. The White House also significantly weakened federal tailpipe regulations and Congress passed legislation that stopped?collecting fines for failing to meet vehicle tailpipe standards. This week, GM said that the rollback of federal emission rules could save up to 750 million dollars. Newsom, a vocal Trump opponent who is considered a likely Democratic presidential candidate for 2028, harshly criticized GM in September, saying GM CEO Mary Barra had "sold us" to undo the progress made by CARB. Sanchez claimed that Trump's attacks on electric cars and policies designed to accelerate the transition to cleaner energy have ceded market share to China. She said that the state was doing all it could to encourage the automakers to innovate in order to compete globally again. She cited Governor Newsom's EV incentives program. "We are looking forward to working with automakers in order to make sure that these investments promote the innovation and competition on a global scale we know is necessary." CALIFORNIA CLIMATE GOALS Trump used the Congressional Review Act last year to revoke California's Advanced?Cars?II waiver to phase-out gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035. This move, coupled with the ending of federal tax incentives for EVs has put a damper on electric passenger vehicle?sales. The state also revoked its Advanced Clean Trucks waiver, which mandated zero-emissions heavy-duty truck manufacture. It also revoked its Heavy-Duty Engine omnibus Low NOx waiver, which would have dramatically reduced nitrogen-oxide emissions over time from new diesel vehicles. The administration also wants to stop the EPA from being able to regulate greenhouse gas emmissions. This is done by rescinding "the endangerment findings" which define these emissions as a threat to human health. In the next few weeks, the repeal of the "endangerment finding" is expected. Sanchez said California will challenge a repeal of the law in court. Before Trump's January 2025 inauguration, CARB officials retracted a waiver request which would have set up the strictest locomotive emission rule in the nation and required railroad operators phase out old diesel engines. The government also retracted a request for a waiver that would have given truckers a deadline to switch from diesel trucks to zero-emission rigs. Sanchez described those withdrawals as strategic ones that allowed state regulators to pursue alternative strategies. Sanchez stated, "We are prepared to fight but we are also prepared to explore alternative options at the same time." (Reporting and editing by David Gregorio; Lisa Baertlein)