Legal Insurrection by Leslie Eastman 11/11/2024
Trump plans to begin by rescinding California’s authority to dictate emission levels, which Biden reinstated after Trump’s first term. Trump is also going to explore tariffs to help the US automotive industry.Legal Insurrection readers may recall that in 20222, I reported that Toyota Motor chief Akio Toyoda was very skeptical of moving to only producing electric vehicles (EVs). Toyoda also indicated that most people in the auto industry agree with him.
“People involved in the auto industry are largely a silent majority,” Toyoda said. “That silent majority is wondering whether EVs are really OK to have as a single option. But they think it’s the trend so they can’t speak out loudly.”
Then, this fall, I noted that Now BMW’s CEO Oliver Zipse argued that Europe’s 2035 ban on internal combustion engines (ICE) is unrealistic and could increase reliance on Chinese batteries.
The re-election of President Donald Trump is now sending a signal to other concerned automotive officials about the rush to EVs.
Toyota Motor Corp.’s North American chief operating officer criticized the US’s policies promoting speedy adoption of electric vehicles, calling them “de facto mandates” out of sync with consumer demand.
Noting government support for EVs has been a hotly debated issue in the US presidential election, Toyota North America COO Jack Hollis said sales of all-electric vehicle should grow organically, without rules penalizing gas-powered car sales.
“The whole EV ecosystem is ahead of the consumer,” Hollis told reporters Friday, pointing to tailpipe emission rules from the Environmental Protection Agency and California. “It’s not in alignment with consumers. It’s just not.”
More:
https://legalinsurrection.com/2024/11/after-trump-win-toyota-executive-criticizes-de-facto-u-s-ev-mandate/
