President Biden issued a new regulation requiring over half of all new cars sold in the U.S. by 2032 to be electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids.
While EV sales grew last year, they still only made up 7.6% of the market.
Biden framed it as necessary to address climate change, but the move faces significant challenges.
“Three years ago, I set an ambitious target: that half of all new cars and trucks sold in 2030 would be zero-emission,” Biden said.
“Together, we’ve made historic progress. Hundreds of new expanded factories across the country. Hundreds of billions in private investment and thousands of good-paying union jobs. And we’ll meet my goal for 2030 and race forward in the years ahead,” he said.
A survey found American EV consumers report more problems than gas vehicle owners, with issues like battery life, charging access and cost.
Car dealers say EVs are piling up in lots due to low demand.
“With each passing day, it becomes more apparent that this attempted electric vehicle mandate is unrealistic based on current and forecasted customer demand,” the car dealers wrote.
“Already, electric vehicles are stacking up on our lots which is our best indicator of customer demand in the marketplace,” they wrote.
Auto workers are worried about lost jobs as EVs require less labor and their supply chain relies on China.
“I think EVs are going to wipe us out,” said Whitney Walch, a Stellantis’ Portland Parts Distribution Center employee. “[EVs] don’t need spark plugs, what else, oil filters, we sell a lot of those. If we don’t have all those parts, I feel like we don’t have a lot to do.”
During a strike, many expressed fear that EVs will eliminate their positions and slash wages.
While the UAW president endorsed Biden, he acknowledged most auto workers support his opponent Trump, who opposes EV mandates.
“Joe Biden has backed every single blood-sucking globalist attack on U.S. auto workers,” Trump said.
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