US pick-ups eligible for ‘thoughts and prayers’ to meet Australia’s new emissions rules

Further details of the controversial plan to ease upcoming Australian emissions standards for US pick-ups have been announced, following last week’s confirmation of less stringent targets for smaller utes and vans.

The revisions to the rules, modelled off similar emissions standards used in the US, saw many large four-wheel-drive wagons reclassified as light-commercial vehicles, and subject to higher CO2 limits than smaller passenger cars.

Vehicles that don’t meet the new guidelines, which gradually become more stringent between 2025 and 2029, are subject to a penalty of $100 per gram of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted beyond the threshold – while vehicles that beat the targets are subject to a credits.

These credits may be traded by manufacturers to offset fines applied to certain vehicles.

As the scheme is based on emissions standards used by the US, further detail has emerged today that will see US-built vehicles – including pick-ups such as the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, Ram 1500 and Toyota Tundra – subject to a bonus credit system widely used in the US to offset other cultural penalties.

Under this appendix to the rules – agreed to as part of the AUKUS nuclear submarine contract – every sale of a new US pick-up can be associated with a commitment of ‘thoughts and prayers’ to the environment, equivalent to the emissions levy applied under the Australian scheme.

This will see the majority of large pickups treated with a zero-sum emissions penalty, where the hybrid Toyota Tundra will even attract a credit position – recognising it as a 'green' vehicle – allowing it to offset vehicles such as the LandCruiser 70 Series V8.

Announcing the program, Mike Raffone, Director of the Strategic Commission of American Manufacturers, said in a media statement:

“The New Vehicle Efficiency Standard sees Australia join the rest of the world in a commitment to lower vehicle emissions, and we’re thrilled to see that the method Americans have been using for decades to combat other significant community issues now able to be used here as well.”

The message of ’thoughts and prayers’ need only be posted to a social media account associated with the sale of the vehicle to receive the