California’s New Air Quality Rule Halts Diesel Motorhome Sales Across Six U.S. States

On October 24, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) issued additional changes to the Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) standards, effectively prohibiting sales of diesel motorhomes in California and five other states. Under these laws, all vehicles weighing more than 8,500 pounds gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) must henceforth emit zero emissions, excluding diesel RVs from compliance.

The ACT law contains a credit system that allows manufacturers to sell a limited amount of fossil-fuel engines as long as they are balanced by non-polluting vehicles. However, diesel chassis makers Spartan and Freightliner, who are key suppliers to Newmar RV, have stated that they are unable to meet the credit requirements. As a result, Newmar declared on November 4 that it would no longer sell diesel motorhomes on these systems.

This rule’s impact extends beyond California. Residents of Oregon, Washington, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts will be unable to register diesel RVs that do not meet the ACT regulations.