A coalition of major automakers, including General Motors, Toyota, and Volkswagen, has called on President-elect Donald Trump to preserve federal tax credits for electric vehicle (EV) purchases and promote the rollout of self-driving car technologies. The automakers raised their concerns in a letter dated Nov. 12, according to the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents the group.
The alliance emphasized the importance of the $7,500 tax credit for EV buyers, noting its role in fostering consumer adoption of electric cars amid stiff competition from subsidized Chinese manufacturers. “Automakers face unfair competition from heavily subsidized electric vehicles and technologies exported from China,” wrote John Bozzella, CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation.
The group also urged Trump to reconsider regulations finalized in April that would require most new vehicles to include automatic emergency braking systems by 2029. These rules, the letter argued, are “practically impossible with available technologies.”
The letter further criticized current federal and state emissions standards, describing them as misaligned with market conditions and burdensome for consumers. The automakers stated their support for “reasonable and achievable” emissions regulations without specifying how such rules should be revised.
The Trump transition team has not commented on the letter. However, recent reports suggest that Trump’s team plans to eliminate the EV tax credit and roll back federal regulations designed to increase fuel efficiency and accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles.
These measures, championed by the Biden administration, effectively require automakers to produce a minimum of 35% EVs by 2032 to meet emissions targets. Critics of the regulations, including Trump, have labeled them as an “EV mandate,” although no such specific mandate exists.
Trump’s potential policy changes would mark a departure from existing efforts to encourage EV adoption and address climate goals. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation emphasized the importance of a balanced regulatory approach to ensure market competitiveness and consumer affordability.
Source: Reuters
