A group representing major automakers including General Motors are urging President-elect Donald Trump to retain key tax credits for electric vehicle purchases and take steps to speed deployment of self-driving cars. Why would car brands want to continue to take a loss? That makes no sense.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation (AAI) in a previously unreported November 12th letter to Trump also raised concerns about vehicle emissions rules saying, "federal and state emissions regulations particularly in California and affiliated states... are out-of-step with current auto market realities and increase costs for consumers."
The automakers did not specify how they want the rules revised but said they support "reasonable and achievable" emissions regulations. The Trump transition team did not immediately comment.
The letter, signed by AAI's CEO John Bozzella, said automakers face unfair competition "from heavily subsidized electric vehicles and technologies exported from China" and also noted that China was implementing a regulatory framework to support deployment of self-driving vehicles.
The group also asked Trump to reconsider rules finalized in April requiring nearly all new cars and trucks by 2029 to have advanced automatic emergency braking systems. The group previously commented that the rules are "practically impossible with available technologies."
Last week, Reuters reported that Trump's transition team wants to kill the $7,500 consumer tax credit for electric-vehicle purchase — a move that would likely slow an already stalling U.S. EV transition.
This week, Reuters reported the Trump transition team plans to target federal regulations heralded by President Biden's administration that aim to make automobiles more fuel-efficient and incentivize a shift toward EVs.
The move appears aimed at satisfying a Trump campaign promise to "end the EV mandate," and would mirror a similar move during the first Trump administration to rollback Obama-era vehicle-efficiency rules.
Although no such "EV mandate" exists, the Biden administration regulations would effectively require automakers to shift at least 35% of production to EVs in order to meet 2032 requirements, and encourage a gradual phase-out of the production of vehicles that run on fossil fuels.
Many automakers want to keep EV rules or extend them due to their already massive investments. Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis want to ask Trump to adjust the EV rules and reduce penalties - other brands want it to go away including Tesla.
Jose Muñoz, who was just tapped as the next global CEO of Hyundai Motor Co., says it is time for the South Korean carmaker to lean hard into hybrids to stay flexible for uncertain times. Hyundai will start making the shift in the second half of 2025, Muñoz said, and begin producing a NEW wave of gasoline-electric hybrids in 2026 at the $12.6 billion factory in Georgia that it calls “Metaplant.” Muñoz forecasted that by the end of the decade, hybrids will comprise the largest share of the company’s U.S. powertrain mix — between 30% and 40%.
Video Link: https://youtu.be/Fv52CjK348I
You can support me by buying me a cup of coffee. Thanks for subscribing and your support! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/laurenfix
Looking for more automotive news? https://youtube.com/@car-smarts
Additional articles on our website https://www.CarCoachReports.com
"LAUREN FIX'S GUIDE TO LOVING YOUR CAR” Book - https://amzn.to/3ifDi3j
Total Car Score Podcast ► Hosts: Lauren Fix, Karl Brauer and Javier Mota. https://www.revolverpodcasts.com/shows/total-car-score/
_______________
Lauren Fix, The Car Coach is a nationally recognized automotive expert, media guest, journalist, author, keynote speaker and television host. A trusted car expert, Lauren provides an insider’s perspective on a wide range of automotive topics and safety issues for both the auto industry and consumers. Her analysis is honest and straightforward.
© 2025 Newsmax Finance. All rights reserved.