The article isn't quite correct there. CA only has a by-name carveout for non-public-road vehicles. For cars, they get the same automatically granted formality

The article isn't quite correct there. CA only has a by-name carveout for non-public-road vehicles. For cars, they get the same automatically granted formality of a waiver to exceed the standards that any other state can. Indeed, something like 15 other states adhere to the stricter California standard via that process.