A system for emissions mitigation for a hybrid automobile vehicle includes an automobile vehicle provided with motive power from: a battery pack; an engine; and a controller in communication with the battery pack and the engine. A threshold battery pack state-of-charge (SOC) is predetermined. A minimum battery pack SOC is less than the threshold battery pack SOC. An engine-on charge depletion (EOCD) command is issued by the controller to start the engine in an engine-catalyst light-off operation condition when the vehicle is operating using power from the battery pack and when the threshold battery pack state-of-charge (SOC) is reached to mitigate against exceeding vehicle emissions standards.