As the once-and-future President Donald Trump prepares for his second term in the White House, the car industry is wondering what comes next in the transition to electric vehicles. Trump has been vocal in his opposition to electric vehicle mandates, and some of his Republican allies are laying out specific plans on the federal level for loosening fuel economy and emissions standards as well as dialing back subsidies.
One of those allies is Trump-endorsed Ohio Senator-elect Bernie Moreno, who defeated Democrat incumbent Sherrod Brown in last week’s election. Moreno, the first car dealer to be elected to the Senate, has some strong opinions on how America should move forward in the slow but steady transition to EVs, and in his words, they largely align with President Trump’s.
Bernie Moreno – Source: Gage Skidmore
“I think [Trump and I] are on the same page here,” Moreno told the Detroit Free Press in an interview. His rhetoric about electric cars largely mirrors what we’ve heard from other Republicans in recent years: that the market should have more power than the government in dictating what Americans drive.
“The problem with GM, Ford, and Stellantis is that they made the decision to pacify the Biden-Harris administration and not call them out for the ridiculousness of their electric vehicle policies,” Moreno said. “Toyota, in listening to their car dealers, they planned to have the cars that consumers wanted. So the big winner now is Toyota because they don’t have to pivot.”
A few of Moreno’s proposals for changes in car-related federal policies include removing the EV tax credit, repealing emission standards that can only be met with EVs, freezing Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for “at least a decade,” and prohibiting the California Air Resources Board (CARB) from following its own set of emissions standards or imposing its own mandates.
Moreno spoke specifically about General Motors in the wide-ranging interview. “I want to see that plant producing automobiles again,” Moreno said of the shuttered GM Lordstown Assembly plant in Ohio, which used to build the Chevy Cruze. Car production is unlikely to restart at the old Lordstown plant since it’s currently owned by Taiwanese firm Foxconn, which plans to build battery packs for electric tractors.
“[Lordstown] is symbolic of what we need to do. We need to turn things around,” Moreno continued. “That community did everything right. These are people who went to work every single day. They followed the rules, they tried to raise their families, and make ends meet and the rug got pulled out from under them. That’s got to end.” Moreno also said he knows Mary Barra and called her a “very capable CEO.”
GM spokeswoman Liz Winter sent the Detroit Free Press the following statement when asked about Moreno’s initiatives: “We look forward to working with Senator-elect Moreno on important issues ahead for the auto industry. GM remains committed to supporting jobs, driving innovation, and keeping America competitive globally. We’ve invested more than $5.6 billion in GM facilities in Ohio since 2013, including a joint venture with LG Energy Solution that employs 2,200 people and positions the industry for the future.”
With Republican control of the Executive and Legislative branches of the federal government, some of these policy changes could happen quickly. The $7,500 federal EV tax credit that many manufacturers, including GM, rely on to make their EVs more affordable appears to be one of the top items on the chopping block. “The United States government – if I have anything to do with it, I’m one of 100 [U.S. Senators], and President Trump obviously makes a decision on this as well – but my suspicion is that electric vehicle subsidies are gone,” Moreno said. “So now there’s no subsidy. You buy an electric vehicle, the car stands on its own.”
Time will tell what the future holds for EVs in the U.S., but if you want that tax credit, you may want to start shopping for your next EV soon.
Comments
Good
Like Trump once said EVs are an option
to consumers and consumers should have other options. (Paraphrasing)
at what point were other options banned? 90% of vehicles sold have an engine. Doesn’t sound like a government forced phase out to me. BUt I guess 90% share isn’t high enough for some folks.
LOL at the downrating of my true comment.
Increasing CAFE standards to unachievable levels, in effect is a passive EV mandate in addition to federal bribes (incentives favoring EV’s over ICE). Pretty clear to many who pay attention.
Yep, that’s force.
Because you’re lying and ignoring not only the ridiculous $7500.00 Tax Credits being handed out but the enormous Tax Incentives being handed out to Corporations for building Battery and EV factories that will enrich only their stockholders and, again, add to our National Debt. Wise up.
But what about poor Elon? He’s going to be bummed.
Nobody buys Tesla’s for the money. They buy it cuz the musk is catching rockets.
And because the horn makes fart sounds.
85ZingoGRT
Maybe Trump can audition for the fart sounds.
Did anyone else think it was weird to see Elon Musk frolicking around Trump’s stage like a sugared up 6-year-old. I sure did.
He’s going to be the new government efficiency czar. Go figure.
Do you think Elon Musk has taken Trump on one of his psilocybin magic mushroom trips yet.
I think Trump wants to see Elon’s weiner in the shower, and then report to the media how enamored he was by it. Just like he did with Arnold Palmer. Do you think this is presidential. Something the leader of the Free World should be doing. He again brings America down. That’s why they’re laughing at us.
When you become aware that he fired 80% of Jack Dorsey’s Twitter employees when he bought the Propagandist P.O.S. Dorsey was running to interfere with our elections and “X” is doing quite well without those people, his efficiency success is needed and very successful.
He’s going to build ice and hybrid vehicles also
Hopefully, Mary will be on her merry way and GM can get back to winning!
have profits ever been better? Don’t think so. I believe she knows what she is doing. And last time I checked GM still sells about 30 models that aren’t EVs.
Not in this country.
GM stopped selling ICE vehicles in the US? News to me.
GM does not sell 30 different ICE vehicles in the US.
Profits! They are there at GM because they choose labor in China and Mexico and Korea that pays 10-20 % of the wages in the USA. It was Mary who closed the Lordstown plant and didn’t blink an eye! Gm has no loyalty to their workforce. They have no loyalty to American jobs because they went from a 45% share of the U.S. market to 17% or lower! They shed 400,000 jobs in America and they get praise? I don’t think so!!!!!
Yes,
Profits today are 2004-2007 bad once inflation adjusted.
Inflation adjusted profits were better in 2014-2016,
2002-2003
All the 90’s
Select years in the 80’s
All the 60’s.
Once again that inflation adjusted. The highest grossing movie ever is still Gone with the Wind once inflation is accounted for, but back then a movie ticket costs a nickel and a Ford 800$.
Now let’s talk about scary Marys effect on market share 😬. Cause GM has never been lower there. FYI, we do the Zimbabwe thing were we print money and everyone is carrying million dollar bills in their pocket, and GM can sell 1 car and make record profits. I don’t care what horn Marys tooting. It’s wrong.
GM is doing way better than Ford and Stellantis. They actually have great designs (at least for EVs – Hummer EV, Sierra EV, Lyriq, Escalade IQ are all gorgeous), high margin ICE trucks business, coherent new platforms, software years ahead of Ford/Stellantis, the only hands-free autopilot, a viable AV story (Cruise) and successful efficiency initiatives. The company is vastly profitable (could pay for market cap in 5 years of profits!). Yes, the earnings multiples are low (which is true for most of the industry sans Tesla) given the uncertain period and admittedly they’re behind on plug-in hybrids, but otherwise they’re doing great. Mary has to stay!
Front fascia of the Sierra EV is terrible looking. Silverado EV looks way better.
My thoughts on this as I feel it will go one of both ways:
1) Trump won’t touch or won’t fully eliminate the EV tax incentives mostly because Elon spent millions on his campaign and has become his buddy now. So the EV transition continues as normal.
2) Trump will eliminate the EV tax incentive, but it won’t affect the EV transition because the only people I see buying them at the moment are people with money that can afford to spend 10k more for a vehicle with a battery pack and less capability as if they are buying a new microwave oven (as oppose to the rest of us who have to really take into consideration the overall package when spending big money on a car). So also, EV transition won’t be affected.
If you want a true EV transition, start pricing them in parity with their ICE and HEV equivalents. Taxpayers can’t be footing the bill forever just so manufacturers can keep sitting on their hands and not make any attempt to bring down their costs. Right now, working Americans have made it clear they have no interest in EVs unless they come down in price. I shouldn’t have to pay Cadillac money for a Chevrolet just because it carries a battery pack. Start producing the battery materials here in the US and cut down on shipping costs if you have to.
#2. What bugs me is that average Americans can no longer afford something like a Silverado because EV costs/losses are being subsidized by non-EV models and in GM’s case it seems by pickups and SUVs.
Uh no, the automakers are focused on profits and getting their share prices higher- that is why they are only making profitable ICE models which is why they have dropped small cars. The guy who got elected to the senate who thinks he can bring back the cruze by killing EVs is either stupid or is just pandering. People wanted the american automakers to get lean and mean and profitable- and two of them are doing so but there is a cost to that. GM is making billions and is more stable than ever, but since they have changed how they operate they are not making money losers anymore.
ROCKET,
The average American can no longer afford something like a Silverado because, 50% of the price of the vehicle is a bunch of redundant crap that doesn’t belong in a truck in the first place.
costs are coming down, not sure what you are talking about. You can get an equinox Ev for $35k. If you can’t understand why an EV built with recently developed technology after huge investments were made to launch a brand new propulsion system isn’t as cheap as a gas car you have no idea how any of this stuff works. The supply chains, factories and other investments that allow ICE vehicles to be made at lower costs were established over decades.
The Equinox is a step in the right direction. But more need to be done.
And GM is coming out with a family of Bolt EVs at lower cost and price points.
Chevy looses and arm and a leg on the equinox EV. They make 10-15K on a single Silverado, more on the suburban. Hence they offer 5-6K in incentives.
The EV tax credit will go away cause Musk doesn’t want Ford/Chevy/Chin@ getting federal money to compete with him.
Trump needs congress to eliminate the tax credits, and the IRA has seen huge investments by many corporations into “red” states with Senators and Representatives that aren’t going to want to stop those investments and good paying jobs.
To your comment on price points of EVs, there are clearly more expensive options than working class Joe priced ones. But they are out there. Bolt, Bolt EUV, Equinox, Blazer LT, Kia Niro, Hyundai Ioniq5, Tesla Model 3, off the top of my head…& there are more on their way. As the owner of a Lyriq and an XT6, I have to say that the Lyriq runs circles around the XT6 with regard to comfort, ride, handling, economy, speed, efficiency. I never thought I would be an EV driver, but the deals are great, the product is top notch, the styling is stunning. All it took was a loaner Lyriq when my XT6 was in for service for me to trade my Lincoln Nautilus for one…no regrets at all and by far the best driving and riding of all of my past 20+ Cadillacs.
Tesla is often seen primarily as an electric vehicle manufacturer, but it’s much more than that. The company has diversified into various technology sectors, including energy storage, solar power, and software services. Their subscription services, like Full Self-Driving (FSD) and premium connectivity, are significant parts of their business model, showcasing its diversified technologies. They are also an Ai company as well as robotics
Tesla also makes significant profits from selling emission credits to the ICE manufacturers.
I’ve never thought government should be subsidizing EVs. If one guy is getting $7,500 for buying an electric car, someone else, who probably can’t afford one, is paying to make up for that. I much prefer that the market dictate EV adoption with no coercion from the Federal government. I’m also of the opinion that Elon Musk and Tesla were doing just fine before the current administration took charge and began offering tax credits and effectively mandating EVs so Elon will be fine if they end. In fact, I further believe that the hard push from Washington for EVs and the subsequent “Everybody In” pressure from Barra and GM had a counter reaction from the car-buying public. Many people are so repulsed by being told what kind of car to drive that they’re now totally turned off to EVs and won’t even consider them. They may well be a great option for many but buying one would amount to acquiescence to government demands so those folks have dug in their heels and refuse. If all the government pressure were to go away, that recalcitrant attitude would likely ease. I think it would be better if all the mandates and subsidies are ended.
you are incorrect. Google the IRA and how its funded, its not paid for by income taxes from personal filers. This is easy to verify. This entire movement has nothing to do with saving regular folks’ tax money.
Google is also full of it so how about No. We all know where that money comes from. You also probably think corporations pay taxes 🤪
When somebody tells you, “we all know,” you know that statement is a lie. Who is we?
You are not speaking for me.
Steve, why you are not just saying: I’ve made up my mind, don’t bother me with the facts!
The EV push was one of the few things I absolutely couldn’t stand about Joe/Kamala (but that didn’t affect my vote), so this is good news.
who in the gov forced you to buy an EV? Evs arent even 10% of the market yet. Can you explain how 8% marketshare is evidence of the government telling you gas cars are not allowed? That is the worst “mandate” ever. Ive learned americans really don’t understand what that word means. Might want to google it.
I think you drank some of the same stuff that didn’t win. There are a few states, California and Minnesota have mandated no ICE cars will be sold in these states after 2035. So maybe you are some what correct as no one is forcing you, but they will.
You probably also believe in fossil fuel, the name. It’s actually not fossil, oil comes from decayed plant life, not dinosaurs. Now you should do some google work too. Also you might like to check out why we have had at least 5, yes 5 ice ages. We are now in the warm part of one, oh and Model “T” s didn’t cause it. And I use my real name too
Correction, oil doesn’t even come from plant life. While it can, and often you find oil in “tar pits” where prehistoric plants were common, there is tons of evidence that oil is being pushed up through the mantle from the heat and pressure of the core acting on carbon from when the earth was formed eons ago. IE, it might practically be unlimited.
The future California regulations allow for PHEVs, so vehicles with an ICE will still be available.
A sad scene to me is when I go cruising car lots on Sundays (staying up on what’s new), and I see a lonely person sitting in their EV, plugged into the dealership’s charger, reading a book. I want to point and laugh and make sure they see me, but I stop short because I’m a nice guy.
My “current” position is, if you want one, buy one, but I do not want to be held responsible for your down payment.
you aren’t. THat notion is flat out lie. Look up the IRa and its funding sources, it’s not you I can guarantee you that.
So it’s sad to you that someone is getting free electricity? While you have to pay for gas?
rEvolutionary,
Some people just can’t stand to see anyone getting something that they are not.
This will fuel competition. That being said, my next car will be a Tesla. Thank you, Elon!!
Since I’m not a policy wonk, my guess doesn’t matter, but here it is:
EV mandates go away immediately, but subsidies to vehicle buyers get phased out over several years. That gives everyone time to recalibrate their production plans.
Since EVs are cheaper to build, I think they will miraculously come down in price as the subsidies phase out. Tesla still has the advantage, since they have been building the cats for the longest.
Now if Trump really wanted to help out the car buying public, he would outlaw subscription services for things like headlights and heated seats.
what EV mandate is going away? People keep referring to it but no one has explained the evidence of the EV mandate.
I believe the term mandate as folks are using it, is not to say consumers are mandated to purchase EVs. But rather the Cafe standards have pushed manufacturers to invest heavily into the EV world well before the infrastructure and consumer demand was ready for it. All the manufacturers that have now built more inventory on EVs than they can sell and in turn also reduced ICE options (i.e. Cadillac) are telling consumers buy our EV or shop elsewhere. Yes there are still plenty of ICE options from all these same manufacturers, but you can see in their marketing and investments where they are headed. As a country we side-stepped the hybrid approach to reducing greenhouse gases in an effort to appease government forced (and not consumer driven) mandates.
Executive Order 14057 requires all federal agencies to procure EVs beginning in 2027. That’s causing a TON of problems for Uncle Sam. I believe that will be rescinded on 1/20/25. I also expect the EPA will challenge the states which follow California’s requirements which ban new ICE sales.
How the heck are they cheaper to build? An vehicle that features 2-3 motors vs 1 in an ICE, and a massive heavy metal battery instead of a rather hollow, air filled engine/transmission. The batteries seam to cost 14K for a bolt (20-30 for a Tesla?) that still makes a bolt (which GM looses money on to this day) an almost 40K car down to 26 for a car that’s smaller than a Trax, which still starts at 20, and they turn a profit on it. Here’s a fun study to do. Go to Motion Industries and look up a standard 100HP electric motor. (News flash, it cost more than your regular V8) Now understand most EV’s have 2 of those if not more. So you are adding a ton of money on top of that expensive battery, and even if solid state batteries make the battery essentially free, EV’s will cost more.
Good Job Trump! Stop shoving this nonsense down our throats. Give the PEOPLE the opportunity to choose instead of being told to do so!!! Opportunity leads to motivation, motivation leads to innovation, and innovation leads to success for EVERYONE!
you cant choose an ICE vehicle now?
@syj215
Yes I can, but the EV nonsense push and telling “we the people” that by the year 2035 there will be nothing but EVs is ridiculous.
What they say will happen, and what actually happens are often two different things.
Technology keeps moving faster and faster, especially with AI. Focus more on the now, and less on what “might” happen a decade from now. A decade is a long time from now. Many of us won’t be here by 2035.
I won’t be.
The federal target was 50% EVs by 2030, no one was going to force you to buy one.
Even in the CARB states, it’s a sales percentage target for the manufacturers that if they fail to meet they pay fines. They could still choose to sell ICE vehicles and just pay the fines.
Also, a certain percentage are allowed to be plug-in hybrids.
“So now there’s no subsidy. You buy an electric vehicle, the car stands on its own.”
As it should be…If you rely on that subsidy to sell the vehicle, it is priced too high for the market. This is a free market, the customer should decide what sells and what doesn’t, not the government. I don’t hate EV’s, they may have their place in the world one day, but we as a country are many decades away from fully transitioning to an all EV transportation system. If you want an EV, go buy an EV. If you want a V8 truck, you should be able to buy one. I look forward to Trump bringing emission standards back to more realistic levels, however, the next Democrat President elected with some support in Congress will reinstate this madness.
I heard the same whining back in the ’70s about unrealistic CAFE. standards and the transitioning to unleaded gasoline.
It was deemed unrealistic for V8 engines to get much over 12 MPG.
The CAFE standards literally doomed the auto industry in the late 1970s early 1980s. Remember the Malaise Era cars of sub 100 HP vehicles?
Tigger,
They also said back in the ’70 and ’80s that CAFE standards and unleaded gas would put an end to any high performance engines in consumer automobiles. That proved not to be true. Today’s modern gasoline engines get better gas mileage and have higher horsepower then anytime in the past.
And it only took 30+ years to get there.
If you had any knowledge of “de-smogged” V8’s in the 70’s and how the EPA crammed tailpipe pollution regulations onto the Auto Makers, prior to the advent of reasonably sized computers, you would know that the huge engines required to move American vehicles due to low H.P. figures from de-smogging was the result of those regulations.
this isnt a free market. Not close to one.
This is NOT likely to happen. Trump is easily manipulated when it comes to dollar signs. And his “world’s-richest-man” benefactor, Elon Musk, now OWNS him. And will protect his own investment in Tesla EVs for personal and commercial use.
Elon Musk is going to play Trump like a Stradivarius.
Elon will use Trump to get the EPA off his back for the pollution the massive rocket engines cause in the atmosphere giving his buddies Joyrides into space.
Not to mention, Kentucky Fried Chicken, cheeseburgers and prostitutes.
Let’s have a vote. Read all comments and vote for the paid GM Company Troll of the Day.
Do you really think that GM cares about the mostly nonsensical comments on this website.
I’m an old Army guy and would love to see an electric Black Hawk helicopter get off the ground. Or a 70 ton M1 tank electric without a back up ICE engine. Current technology does not support yet, maybe someday when we have Warp drive.
So you haven’t seen all the eVTOLS out there?
Name one eVTOL that has 3,000 lbs of internal payload capacity and over 20,000 lbs of total takeoff weight.
You’re comparing a .22LR to a 81mm.
Ask yourself this question, why is Wall Street so heavily invested in EV? Why do they hate Trump and the oil industry? They can’t push them around (control). Wall Street loves millionaires, can’t control Trump
Toyota is doing well with hybrids.
Not sure how true this is, GM is experimenting with hydrogen fuel cell instead of batteries.
Jay Leno was given a BMW to test out, piston engine, flex fuel hydrogen/gasoline. I seen a Silverado pickup with ICE engine burning pure hydrogen, larger radiator and fuel system mods. What comes out of the tail pipe? Drinkable water
The headline is one letter off, Should instead of Could!
Bernie Moreno is a bit less than honest. He was found quilty in court of cheating folks that worked in his Cleveland area dealerships of their overtime pay. He was court ordered to pay his workers $420,000, but who knows exactly how much he actually cheated his workers. He also acknowledged in courtroom during the trial that he had shredded all the pay accounting documents supporting the workers claims. No wonder Trump likes this guy.
Bernie Moreno was born in Bogata, Columbia his family moving to the U.S. when he was five. Interestingly Moreno worked for gm in Massachusetts before moving to Cleveland. If Trump ends the EV credits I’m sure that Moreno now in the Senate will support him.