CALSTART Media Contacts:

Sasha Tenenbaum, stenenbaum@calstart.org

Jennifer Smith, jsmith@calstart.org

 

PASADENA, CA — Today, CALSTART, a global clean transportation nonprofit, formally announces the upcoming retirement of John Boesel, CALSTART’s President and CEO, after a remarkable 33-year run. Over the last 34 years, CALSTART has become the nation’s leading clean transportation industry-building organization.

Boesel assumed the helm of the organization in 2001, having served as Vice President of Technology Programs since 1993. CALSTART’s Board of Directors is overseeing the search for a new CALSTART CEO, and one will be announced soon.

In 2001, CALSTART had a staff of about 15, a limited revenue stream, and a regional focus. But over the past 24 years, CALSTART has grown into a national organization with regional offices and over 200 team members.

“It has been an honor to serve CALSTART for more than three decades and lead the team that has played a key role in growing the United States’ clean transportation industry,” said John Boesel. “I am very excited about the future of CALSTART and, particularly with current dynamics, its opportunity to take on an even more impactful role in accelerating the growth of the North American clean transportation industry.”

Under Boesel’s leadership, CALSTART’s membership has grown to more than 210 clean transportation member companies. CALSTART is the only national organization actively working to build the industry, from bikes to big rigs and from the Pacific to the Atlantic.

During the past 34 years, CALSTART has become a significant force, advancing clean transportation industry-building policies both nationally and at the state level. CALSTART and its member companies have worked together to get strong emissions standards implemented, while also creating major incentive programs. By the middle of 2026, CALSTART will be managing more than 10 different zero-emission vehicle incentive programs in multiple states.

Though active early in the passenger car sector, this century, under Boesel’s leadership, CALSTART played a leadership role in building the zero-emission commercial vehicle market. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the CALSTART team was instrumental in securing funding so that its member companies could develop prototypes and demonstrate zero-emission technology in an array of commercial vehicles. Over the past 15 years, CALSTART has partnered with the California Air Resources Board to manage more than $1 billion in zero-emission commercial vehicle incentives.

Encouraged by California becoming the first government in the world to create a zero-emission truck regulation, at Governor Jerry Brown’s 2018 Global Climate Action Summit, CALSTART launched the Global Commercial Vehicle Drive to Zero Program. The goal of the program is to get other nations to sign on to zero-emission commercial vehicle targets aligned with those of California – and at the G20 Clean Energy Ministerial, Canada became the first nation to do just that. In 2021, the Netherlands national government agreed to become CALSTART’s official partner in the program. Together, the team got 40 nations, including the United States, to join. This year, Colombia agreed to become the new co-lead of the Global Memorandum of Understanding on Zero-Emission Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles.

“As Chair of CALSTART’s Board, I have had the distinct pleasure of rolling up sleeves with John to tackle some of the most crucial issues and opportunities facing our sector,” said Cynthia Williams, Global Director, Vehicle Compliance, Ford Motor Company. “His unwavering leadership has elevated CALSTART to remarkable achievements, solidifying its role as a frontrunner in transportation decarbonization. John’s legacy will inspire the next generation of changemakers to create a more sustainable tomorrow.”

“The CALSTART mission to drive innovation, market growth, job creation, and pollution reduction across the transportation industry is as important as ever,” said Karen Hamberg, Partner, Deloitte Canada and Chair Emeritus of CALSTART. “The exceptional CALSTART team built under John’s tenure is well-positioned to lead nationally and internationally to advance a clean transportation economy.”

Visit CALSTART’s official website to learn more about the organization and where it is heading under new leadership.

About CALSTART

A mission-driven industry organization focused on transportation decarbonization and clean air for all, CALSTART has offices in New York, Michigan, Colorado, California, Florida, and Europe. CALSTART is uniquely positioned to build the national clean transportation industry by working closely with its more than 210 member companies and building on the lessons learned from the major programs it manages for the State of California. CALSTART manages more than $1 billion in vehicle incentive and technical assistance programs in the United States and is leading a global effort to build the zero-emission commercial vehicle market.