About

About Our Firm

Decades of Insider Expertise. One Clear Path.

El Camino Real Consulting Corp. was founded on a simple principle: regulatory compliance should be a bridge to the market, not a barrier.

Our team is not comprised of generalists. We are a specialized network of automotive engineers, legal advisors, and certification experts who have spent decades working exclusively within the emissions departments of global automakers. We understand the internal pressures of a production timeline because we have lived them.

We have long established relationships with key CARB and USEPA staff and management.   Our staff does not just follow the regulations, we participated in the rulemakings that created the regulations and helped design the systems used to measure compliance.

The "Network" Advantage

Unlike traditional firms, we operate as a nimble, elite network. This allows us to:

• Match Expertise to Need: We deploy the specific engineer or legal advisor best suited for your engine category—whether it's heavy-duty on-road, small off-road, or cutting-edge EV infrastructure.

• Reduce Overhead: By maintaining a lean, expert-driven structure, we provide a significant cost savings to your regulatory compliance programs without sacrificing the quality of the submission.

Provide Global Reach: Our experts have managed certifications for products destined for every major global market, ensuring your strategy is robust and future-proof.

Our Leadership

David N. Patterson, P.E.

Founder & Principal Consultant

With a career spanning decades at the highest levels of the automotive industry, David founded El Camino Real Consulting Corp. to provide manufacturers with the technical and legal oversight required to navigate the increasingly complex CARB and US EPA landscapes.

His vision of providing "Solutions as clear as a bell" is built upon a unique, 360-degree perspective of the regulatory process:

• Regulatory Foundation: David began his career in the Aftermarket Parts Section at CARB, where he evaluated hundreds of aftermarket parts for Executive Orders (EOs).  Later,  he worked developing the early test equipment and procedures that defined the test standards for low-emission and electric vehicles still used today.

• OEM Authority: Served as Chief Engineer for Mitsubishi Motors R&D of America. As the Central Point of Contact for all US EPA and CARB activities, he held total accountability for North American Regulatory Affairs, Certification, and Maintaining Compliance for the entire fleet—including Fuel Economy (CAFE) and GHG standards.

• Unprecedented Enforcement Oversight: David accepted the challenge of serving as a Vehicle Emissions Expert for the Independent Corporate Compliance Monitor and Auditor for Volkswagen AG. Appointed under the US DOJ Plea Agreement and Civil Consent Decrees, he provided the technical audit oversight for the most comprehensive enforcement action in automotive history.

This transition from the highest levels of corporate and federal oversight led David to establish his independent consultancy, providing clients with unparalleled regulatory clarity and technical integrity.