The Automotive Service Association (ASA) hosted a bonus webinar on Friday for a conversation with Bob Redding, ASA’s Washington, D.C. representative, and Steve Douglas, vice president for Energy and Environment at the Alliance for Automotive Innovation. The webinar was focused on the recent California Air Resource Board (CARB) Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC-II) regulations and what these will mean for independent repair shops across the U.S.

Last month, CARB approved the historic Advanced Clean Cars II regulations, which will rapidly scale down light-duty passenger car, truck and SUV emissions starting with the 2026 model year to reach the state goal of all new vehicles sold in California be zero-emissions by 2035. Most notably for independent repair shops, the Advanced Clean Cars II regulations require the same access and disclosure for zero-emission vehicles that are required for current internal combustion engine vehicles under the California Service Information Regulations.

During the webinar, Douglas outlined the history behind the Advanced Clean Cars II regulations, including the advent of the on-board diagnostic port (OBD-II) that independent repair shops use to access emission information for vehicles. The ACC-II regulations require zero-emission vehicles to have a standardized data connector and use standardized communication protocols and tooling to reprogram electronic control units (ECUs). 

The conversation also included important insights into the timing and development of widespread electric vehicle deployment. While electric vehicles currently only make up about 6% of the new vehicle sales in the U.S., auto manufacturers are making huge investments in EV development to try and meet the goals for deployment set forth by the California Air Resource Board and by the Biden Administration. Douglas reaffirmed the importance that shops make investments in electric vehicle training and tools to prepare for the upcoming changes. 

The webinar concluded with a discussion on the longstanding relationship between ASA and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation. In his closing remarks, Douglas noted that independent repair shops conduct 70% of post-warranty repairs and are an essential partner for automakers. With the new ACC-II regulations and the transition to electric vehicles, the collaboration between the automakers and independent repair shops is more important than ever. 

Watch the full webinar here.