General Motors Co., Toyota Motor Corp. and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV plan to back President Donald Trump in a contentious battle with California officials over automobile emissions rules, splitting with major rivals including Ford Motor Co.

GM, Toyota and several other automakers plan to intervene on the administration's behalf in a lawsuit filed by environmental groups challenging the U.S. Department of Transportation's rule stripping California of its ability to regulate tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions.

The move was announced Monday by John Bozzella, a spokesman for the companies siding with the administration, who call themselves the Coalition for Sustainable Automotive Regulation.