Daimler stops selling diesel-powered semi trucks in Oregon due to new environmental rule, per report

Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) has stopped selling heavy duty diesel trucks in Oregon over concerns that doing so would violate a new law, according to reports.

On December 20, 2024, Portland, Oregon-headquartered DTNA issued a memo to dealerships in Oregon announcing that the truck maker would not be selling diesel trucks in the state for the foreseeable future.

The DTNA memo obtained by local outlet Willamette Week states:

Effective immediately, DTNA is pausing all orders for new internal combustion vehicles intended for registration in Oregon.

The outlet reports that the decision to pause diesel truck sales in Oregon comes as a result of uncertainty over the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Advanced Clean Trucks Rule that went into effect on January 1.

Modeled after a similar rule in California, Oregon’s version of the Advanced Clean Trucks Rule requires that 7% of new Class 8 heavy trucks that a manufacturer sells in Oregon in 2025 must be electric-powered.

DTNA reportedly wasn’t clear how the electric trucks credits would be counted, so rather than run afoul of the rule, the truck maker has opted to pause sales until Oregon DEQ can provide clarification to avoid penalties.

The Oregon DEQ says that it is working to clear up any confusion with DTNA.