Former President Donald Trump’s campaign is currently standing in staunch defense of American citizens following the latest policies introduced by President Joe Biden’s administration regarding traditional gasoline-run vehicles. These freshly-minted provisions relating to gas-fueled cars, according to certain critics, may inadvertently pressure consumers to gravitate towards pricier electric vehicles.
A member of the Trump team, Karoline Leavitt, in conversation with Fox News, expressed concerns that Biden’s heavy-handed electric car mandate would unjustly burden Americans who may not desire or be able to afford such high-end vehicles. She warned of devastating consequences for the U.S. auto industry if this radical policy goes unchallenged.
The Trump campaign spokesperson emphasized that the said policy has potential to disrupt employment, disadvantage consumers and undermine the American ethos. Leavitt voiced further worry that the policy has the strength to ultimately erode the U.S. auto industry and strengthen China’s position in the global market, a scenario many would deem unfavorable.
She firmly stated their stance, saying that upon returning to office, former President Trump would be assertive in repealing this forceful electric vehicle directive immediately. However, the regulations, which were revealed recently, push for the strictest emission standards ever set for light-duty and medium-duty vehicles from the 2027 model year onwards.
These regulations present a progressively escalating timeline culminating in 2032, with the objective that the majority of vehicles purchased by then will be battery electric or plug-in hybrid. This timeline is incumbent on auto manufacturers ensuring annual incremental increases in zero or low-emissions vehicle sales.
As per the ‘low-cost’ model outlined in the rules, officials from the administration suggest that nearly 70% of light-duty auto sales could be battery electric or hybrid by 2032. A statistic implying a future where zero-emissions or low-emission vehicles would constitute an overwhelming majority of new car purchases.
President Biden, on the other hand, has been unshakeably optimistic about these new regulations, despite the potential dissatisfaction some constituents, including those in Michigan, a key swing state, might have. The President felt the aspiration he set back in 2016 was momentous — having half of all the new cars and trucks sold by 2030 be zero-emission.
In achieving this objective, President Biden endeavored to consolidate the collaborative efforts of American automakers and workers. As a result, he stated, the country has noted significant progress in industry evolution. This includes expansion of hundreds of American auto factories and the inception of numerous high-paying, union jobs.
Chet Thompson, the President and CEO of American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, and Mike Sommers, the President and CEO of American Petroleum Institute, have expressed apprehension over this new plan. They have urged Congress to intervene and prevent the drastic shift in the automobile market.
Both industry leaders have openly expressed their concerns regarding the potential repercussions on those American citizens who are already grappling with economic hardship and inflation. They fear that such dramatic regulation would result in a drastic reduction of conventional gas and hybrid cars within the US market by 2032.
They went on to express their skepticism on the softer approach claimed by the administration. They declared with conviction that this regulation would render new gas-driven vehicles either unreachable or outrageously expensive for the average American citizen, hence translating to what will function as a ban to most.
In a surprising development earlier this year, the United Auto Workers union President, Shawn Fain, endorsed Biden’s re-election, only to follow it with an unexpected revelation during a live interview on Fox News. Fain hinted that a significant proportion of UAW members might actually cast their vote in favor of Donald Trump.
Following queries about the flagging sales of electric vehicles and potential impact on union labor, there was mention of the historical support for Republican Presidents, such as Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, from sizable factions within the UAW membership. There seemed to be an extension of this support to Trump over the last two elections.
The conversation steered towards the current support Trump maintains among UAW members, and Fain was questioned about his feelings on the matter. In response, the UAW President declared, ‘Let me be clear about this: A great majority of our members will not vote for President Biden.’
Fain implied that UAW members would inevitably prioritize their economic interests when casting their votes. He stated, ‘The majority of our members are going to vote their paychecks. They’re going to vote for an economy that works for them.’
Although Fain stopped short of outrightly endorsing Trump, the narrative seemed to lean towards him as the more favorable candidate among UAW members. This was particularly evident following the line of discourse pointing to their past support for Republican incumbents.
Trump Vows to Handle Biden’s Electric Vehicle Regulations Day One if Re-Elected appeared first on Real News Now.
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