Dealers, municipal utilities and auto trade groups urge pause or flexibility on Massachusetts ZEV sales mandate

Dealership and municipal utility representatives told the Telecom, Utilities and Energy Committee that Massachusetts should delay or give regulators flexibility in enforcing Advanced Clean Cars/Trucks rules because market, infrastructure and cost realities make the current sales mandates infeasible.

The concern was raised during testimony supporting House Bill 3,535, an act described at the hearing as allowing the Department of Environmental Protection or similar agencies to delay implementation or enforcement of 0‑emission vehicle mandates. Representative Dave Merrady, speaking in support of H.B. 3535, said Massachusetts currently sells only about 8 percent zero‑emission vehicles and that a mandate of 35 percent for model year 2026 rising to 100 percent by model year 2035 “is simply not realistic.” He said manufacturers and dealers need time to “catch up” and…