New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the implementation of new vehicle emissions rules aimed at decreasing air pollution and allowing greater access to zero-emission vehicles, according to a release from Grisham's office.

“These new rules will ensure that all New Mexicans have access to a greater number of new zero- and low-emission vehicle models, while hastening the transition away from polluting diesel and gasoline-powered cars and trucks,” Environment Department Cabinet Secretary James Kenney said in the release. “We look forward to engaging with all New Mexicans on these proposed rules in the coming months.”

The focus of the new vehicle rules, known as Advanced Clean Cars and Advanced Clean Trucks, aims to align low-emissions vehicle availability with the state's ambitious climate objectives. The regulations establish yearly goals for the gradual increase in sales of new zero-emission vehicles, the release stated.

The new rules require vehicle manufacturers to provide cleaner vehicle options to residents, leading to substantial reductions in smog-forming nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter emissions (PM) from gasoline or diesel engines, amounting to more than 50,200 tons of NOx and 615 tons of PM when fully implemented, the state reported. In addition, the new rules will contribute to a collective reduction of more than 76 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, a vital part of the state's strategy to reduce its emissions.

“These rules will speed up much-needed investment in New Mexico’s electric vehicle and clean hydrogen fueling infrastructure, create new job opportunities and, most importantly, result in cleaner and healthier air for all New Mexicans to breathe,” Grisham said in the release.

The regulations work with the Clean Cars rule, approved in 2022 by the Environmental Improvement Board and the Albuquerque-Bernalillo Air Quality Control Board, further solidifying the state's commitment to promoting environmentally friendly transportation options, the release added.