Contact:	Bob Redding (202) 543-1440
For Release:	Immediate News Bulletin 97.69 August 20, 1997

New York Electric Vehicle Sales Mandate Upheld

Washington, D.C., August 20, 1997-- U.S. Circuit Court Judge Lawrence Kahn upheld a New York rule that requires that 8,000 electric vehicles must be sold in 1998. The auto industry has said that it will appeal the ruling.

New York law requires that, in 1998, two percent of sales by manufacturers must be zero-emission electric vehicles. Those who brought forth the lawsuit challenged that the New York law is not based on either federal or California vehicle standards and that New York did not have the authority to impose the mandate. Stating that the purpose of the law is to spur new technology, Kahn ruled that the mandate is in line with the Clean Air Act.

Automotive Service Association (ASA) Washington Representative Bob Redding said, "We continue to be concerned about mandating new, unproven technologies. In reference to the Clean Air Act, we would hope the government would spend more time implementing credible emissions testing programs to address air quality issues in the current American transportation system and less on technologies that have minuscule positions in the marketplace."

The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind serving more than 12,000 businesses and approximately 55,000 professionals from all segments of the automotive service industry. ASA advances the professionalism and excellence in the automotive repair industry through education, representation and member services.