October 15, 2014
Ms. Katie Estabrook
California Air Resources Board
Office of the Chair
P.O. Box 2815
Sacramento, CA 95812

Dear Board Member Estabrook,

I am writing to indicate the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce’s support for the compromise that your staff has negotiated with a group of medium-sized auto makers, the IVM5 (Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru and Volvo). This compromise would allow the IVM5 the lead-time and certainty they need in order to comply with CARB’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandates.

We understand that the compromise negotiated between CARB and the IVM5 is a solution that will allow CARB to reach its ZEV goals while allowing the IVM5 to remain in the market without disruption. We applaud this solution.

All of these companies are members of this region’s important automotive cluster and two of the IVM5 members, Mazda and Mitsubishi, maintain their US headquarters here in Southern California. While their cars are not manufactured in this region, their operations directly employ about 7,900 Californians in design, R&D, finance and other operations for the North American market, as well as their dealerships throughout California.

California will be best served by a ZEV program that is implemented in the most inclusive manner possible, without inadvertently causing negative economic impacts to the state’s economy and business community.

We respectfully request that the California Air Resources Board, during your upcoming October 23rd Board Meeting, adopt the compromise proposal negotiated between CARB and the IVM5; to allow the IVM5 to make timely investments in an environment of regulatory certainty, and in support of CARB’s long term ZEV goals.

Sincerely,
Gary Toebben
President & CEO
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce