Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger met with auto executives last Thursday, and told them to “stop whining” over California’s attempt to impose tougher emissions standards. The trade group, whose members include Chrysler, Toyota, Ford, General Motors, BMW and Volkswagen have been pushing back against California’s new rules, which are intended to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Schwarzenegger told execs that the train has left the station, and that they should cease challenging California’s position on the emissions rules:

“I said, ‘While you’re whining, you should be creating new technologies. That’s how you meet the date,” Schwarzenegger told The Associated Press after meeting with members of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

California aims to cut 1/3 of emissions of vehicles sold in the state by 2016, four years earlier than similar emissions rules proposed by the federal government. This is the first time Schwarzenegger and automakers have met in several years, after being at odds over California’s tailpipe regulations.

and contact your governor and state legislators to urge them to join the growing state movement to increase vehicle emissions standards through the online petition at change.org.

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