Industry groups slammed the state of California for suing six US and Japanese automakers for their alleged contribution to global warming, the first such legal fight in the United States. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the trade group representing global automakers in the United States called the action a "nuisance" lawsuit.
"Automakers are already building cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles, and every single auto sold in California is approved by the State of California before it goes to the dealer's lot," the Alliance said in a statement.
"Today's autos are 99 percent cleaner than a generation ago," it added. "Automakers are now selling more than 45 models of alternative fuel autos, including hybrids, ethanol-capable vehicles and clean diesel autos, and many more models are in development for future introduction."
California's attorney general on Wednesday said the federal government and automakers had failed to act in response to the crisis of global warming which is fueled by vehicle emissions.
"Global warming is causing significant harm to California's environment, economy, agriculture and public health. The impacts are already costing millions of dollars, and the price tag is increasing," Attorney General Bill Lockyer said.
The US Chamber of Commerce on Thursday accused Lockyer of filing the suit for his own political gain.
"The election year decision to file a lawsuit against automobile manufacturers for causing global warming by a politician seeking office is a classic case of over-reaching by a state attorney general," US Chamber Institute for Legal Reform President Lisa Rickard said in a statement.
"At a time when the industry is looking for ways to cut emissions and promote alternative fuels, to single out the automobile companies for legal action in this way is the epitome of a frivolous lawsuit."
The companies named in the complaint are the Chrysler Motors Corporation, an arm of DaimlerChrysler based in Germany; General Motors Corporation; Ford Motor Company; and the North American subsidiaries of Japanese carmakers Honda Motor, Nissan Motor and Toyota Motor.
These carmakers are "among the world's largest contributors to global warming and the adverse impacts on California," the suit charges.
The suit is the first of its kind seeking to hold manufacturers liable for damages allegedly caused by greenhouse gases produced by their vehicles.
California, the richest and most populous US state, has more than 35 million people and some 32 million registered vehicles. The biggest metropolitan area, Los Angeles, usually tops the list of the most polluted US cities.
Authorities in California, led by Republican actor-turned-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, have broken with US President George W. Bush on environmental issues. Schwarzenegger has said he will sign greenhouse gas-reducing legislation making California the first US state to commit to adhering to the Kyoto Protocol.
The Kyoto Protocol sets out measures for tackling greenhouse gas pollution.
The governor was set to sign this month a landmark bill to cap greenhouse gas emissions, making California the first US state to limit carbon dioxide and other gases accused of contributing to global warming.
