After months of regulatory chaos, the CARB coalition is starting to fracture — and Dodge fans are celebrating. Multiple states that had mirrored California’s strict emissions standards are now reversing course, clearing the way for Dodge Durango Hellcat sales.
The move signals a larger breakdown in the once-solid alliance of states enforcing California-style vehicle restrictions. According to sources, 11 CARB states have lifted their bans, making the Durango Hellcat available again for order and delivery.
Curiously, the more fuel-efficient Durango 392 remains blocked in several of those same states — a contradiction that underscores how arbitrary and politically driven many of these emissions rules have become. “It’s never been about the environment,” one analyst commented. “It’s always been about control and money.”
Legal pressure from Washington may be accelerating the unraveling. The federal government recently filed suit against the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the state itself, alleging interference in interstate commerce and overreach in enforcing emissions policy beyond its borders. Industry watchers say this lawsuit could dismantle CARB’s national influence — potentially restoring sales for a wide range of high-performance vehicles.
Meanwhile, rumors are swirling online about a potential hybrid TRX, but insiders dismiss the idea. Dodge’s direction under Tim Kuniskis has clearly shifted back toward performance-first engineering, abandoning the 4xe plug-in strategy and the now-canceled Charger Daytona Banshee EV.
For enthusiasts, the Durango Hellcat’s return marks more than just a single model’s revival — it’s a symbolic win for internal combustion in an era of regulatory uncertainty.
With CARB’s authority under fire and states beginning to defect, it may only be a matter of time before the Durango 392 and other restricted models follow suit.
