Nick Langworthy, U.S. representative for New York’s 23rd Congressional District, said that blocking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved California electric vehicle (EV) mandate is a victory for economic stability and consumer protection.
“This is a huge win for our auto-industry consumers, dealerships, and workers,” said Langworthy, Congressman. “I led a bipartisan letter to Governor Hochul urging her to reconsider New York’s EV Sales Mandate. The mandate would have left dealerships with large inventories of unsold EVs. Forcing our dealerships to shoulder this burden would have had dire consequences.”
According to Mohawk Valley Times, in 2025, 269 car dealerships in New York submitted formal objections to the state’s EV mandates. These dealerships expressed concerns about the feasibility of meeting targets set by the Advanced Clean Cars II regulation, citing issues related to EV infrastructure, consumer demand, and potential economic impacts on businesses. They requested more time and flexibility to adapt to the mandated transition to zero-emission vehicles.
As reported by the New York Post, a group in New York raised concerns about the state’s EV sales mandates in early 2025. The mandates aim for 35% of new vehicle sales to be zero-emission by 2026 and 100% by 2035. The group highlighted potential negative impacts on businesses and consumers, especially in rural areas where EV adoption has been slower. They requested a delay or modification to these mandates due to these concerns.
According to Mohawk Valley Times, in 2024, only 24% of new-vehicle buyers were “very likely” to purchase an electric vehicle, marking a decrease from the previous year. The study pointed out that consumers remained concerned about vehicle costs, charging infrastructure, and EV range. This data indicates ongoing hesitation among consumers despite increasing availability of EVs in the market.
Langworthy was elected in 2022 to represent New York’s 23rd Congressional District, which includes Chautauqua, Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Tioga Counties as well as parts of Erie, Schuyler, and Steuben Counties. He serves on the House Rules Committee as well as the Energy and Commerce and Oversight Committees. He advocates for rural communities and works to ensure their interests are reflected in national legislation.
