Ford May Join Suit Vs. Clean Air In California

NEW YORK Reuters reported that The Wall Street Journal said that the Ford Motor Co. may still participate in an auto industry lawsuit over California's new clean-air law, startling state officials who thought the No. 2 automaker's chairman was willing to cooperate with them, the Wall Street Journal online edition reported on Sunday.

The Washington trade group representing Ford and most other major auto makers said it expects to file suit against California regulators to try to block the new law, which makes California the first state to limit auto emissions of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide.

The law is due to take effect with 2009 model-year vehicles and would make vehicles run farther on a gallon of gasoline. The auto industry fears this measure will force them to re-engineer profitable but gas-guzzling sport-utility vehicles and pickup trucks.