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2021 copper content regulations set ten years ago, snags models fitted with high-performance Brembo units.

If you're a resident of the states of California or Washington and planning to order a certain 2021 Chevrolet Camaro model, your local dealers may not be able to order one for you. It's not because the models are sold out or even have an exhaust emissions issue, but rather because the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, ZL1, SS and 2SS trims have brake pads containing more copper than allowed.

It was a decade ago when both California and Washington passed laws (SB6557 and SB346, respectively) seeking to reduce copper content in automotive brake pads. The state of Washington signed SB6557 into law in March 2, 2010. California passed SB346 the following September. Both bills limit the copper content of brake pads at no more than 5% in 2021.

The states instituted the regulations as a way to prevent the metal from polluting waters and harming fish. As the brakes pads wear down, they release copper shavings onto roads, which find their way into the sewers and are eventually washed into rivers, where state officials say it could harm marine life, especially salmon.  Salmon is a particularly important to the Washington State economy.

These laws take matters further by restricting copper content of brake pads to nearly zero or 0.5%. The California law (California Motor Vehicle Brake Friction Material Law) seeks to impose this limitation by 2025. Washington made the 0.5% restriction effective eight years from the time experts find a viable alternative for copper.

Apparently, the copper content of brake pads in 2021 models of the Chevrolet Camaro SS, 2SS, ZL1 and ZL1 1LE are more than 5%, which means dealers in the states of California and Washington could no longer order them from Chevrolet starting this past November. These Camaro models would have been delivered on or after January 1, 2021.

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For the 2021 model year, the Chevrolet Camaro SS is equipped with SS Brembo front and rear performance antilock brakes, while the Camaro ZL1 is served by six-pot front Brembo units and four-pot rear Brembo units. It's unlikely Chevrolet could replace these brake pads for 2021 models.

Nonetheless, customers can still purchase these new Camaros if they arrived on dealer lots before the very first day of 2021, according to Chevrolet statement sent to GM Authority. This means dealers in these state can sell only what's left in their lots from that point on.

Chevrolet is expected to replace the brake pads with compliant ones in the 2022 model year. So, Washington and California residents fully intent on buying one of these Camaro models, will need to wait another year.

Source: GM Authority, copper.org

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Julybien Atadero writes from the island of Cebu covering various automotive topics including new sports cars, classic muscles, pickup trucks and SUVs. While I like peace and quiet, I love playing with my kid. When I have nothing else to do, I watch documentaries and animations.