Los Angeles County Boycotts Select OEMs, Following State Policy

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has voted to prohibit the purchase of vehicles from companies that oppose California’s ability to set greenhouse gas and vehicle emission standards. These automakers include FCA, General Motors, and Toyota.

The county spends up to $30 million annually to purchase up to 1,500 vehicles to replace its fleet of 14,000, County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl stated in a release. Los Angeles is the first county in California to adopt such a policy, and other local jurisdictions in the state are expected to consider similar policies.

Four county departments manage their own fleets (Fire, Sheriff, Public Works, and Community Development), while Internal Services manages vehicles for all other departments. However, all fleet purchasing is done through the County Purchasing Agent, which is part of Internal Services. This Purchasing Agent will have the power to restrict the purchase of vehicles from these OEMs, according to the motion.

Waivers can be granted based on verifiable business or operational necessity.

The policy is expected to be submitted to the board in 60 days.

Meanwhile, the City of Los Angeles is also pushing for a clean-vehicle policy. Two councilmembers have co-authored a motion to purchase vehicles only from car manufacturers that recognize the authority of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to set greenhouse gas and zero emission vehicle standards and meet those standards. The rule would be enforced beginning Jan. 1, 2020. The new rule would also stop city agencies from purchasing most types of vehicles that have internal combustion engines, with an exemption for public safety vehicles when there is no clean alternative.

These policies follow the State of California, which set a similar policy last month to both boycott these companies (effective Jan. 1, 2020) and buy only zero-emission vehicles if available (already in effect).

Originally posted on Government Fleet