CALSTART, a global clean transportation nonprofit, formally announced the upcoming retirement of John Boesel, President and CEO, after a 33-year tenure. Over the past 34 years, CALSTART has experienced significant growth in size and influence.

Boesel began his tenure as CEO in 2001, having previously served as Vice President of Technology Programs since 1993. CALSTART’s Board of Directors is overseeing the search for a new CEO.

In 2001, CALSTART had a staff of about 15, a limited revenue stream, and a regional focus. Over the past 24 years, the organization has expanded into a national entity with regional offices and more than 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 companies. CALSTART is a national organization dedicated to supporting the clean transportation industry across various vehicle types, including bicycles and heavy-duty trucks.

Over the past 34 years, CALSTART has played an active role in advancing clean transportation industry policies both nationally and at the state level. CALSTART and its member companies have collaborated to implement emissions standards and establish a range of incentive programs. By mid-2026, CALSTART is projected to manage more than 10 zero-emission vehicle incentive programs across multiple states.

Though initially active in the passenger car sector, CALSTART shifted its focus in the 2000s to help develop the zero-emission commercial vehicle market. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the CALSTART team secured funding that enabled member companies to develop prototypes and demonstrate zero-emission technologies in 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 implement a zero-emission truck regulation, CALSTART launched the Global Commercial Vehicle Drive to Zero Program at Governor Jerry Brown’s 2018 Global Climate Action Summit. The goal of the program is to encourage other nations to adopt zero-emission commercial vehicle targets aligned with California’s. At the G20 Clean Energy Ministerial, Canada became the first nation to do so. In 2021, the Netherlands’ national government joined as an official program partner. To date, 40 nations, including the United States, have signed on. In 2025, 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.”