GM has committed to a future of electrification, dedicating $35 billion to electric and autonomous vehicle development and planning to launch 30 EVs globally through 2025. The automaker aims to have an all-electric light-vehicle portfolio by 2035.
GM’s EV goals align with an executive order Biden signed in August aimed at making half of new-vehicle sales electric by 2030. The target is not legally binding and includes plug-in hybrid models with gasoline engines.
IHS Markit expects battery-electric vehicle sales to make up 15 percent of U.S. light-vehicle sales by 2025 and 34 percent by 2030.
The infrastructure bill covers $550 billion of spending, including $7.5 billion for EV charging stations and $65 billion for upgrades to the country’s electric grid.
Still on the table is the $1.75 trillion Build Back Better Act, which includes a controversial bonus tax credit for union-built EVs. Volkswagen Group of America, American Honda Motor Co., Toyota Motor North America, which operate nonunion plants in the U.S., and U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., have publicly opposed the tax credit. Manchin called the credit “wrong” and “not American.”
Biden emphasized the value of unions and union-built, American-built vehicles Wednesday.
“The middle class built America, and unions built the middle class,” he said.
U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said she supports consumer rebates for union-built vehicles made in the U.S. She criticized Toyota and other Japanese automakers for opposing the rebates while operating unionized plants in Japan, a market that is largely closed off to U.S. automakers.
“It takes a lot of nerve for them to fight our efforts to have a consumer bonus for buying vehicles made by the United Auto Workers,” she said at the Factory Zero event. “I call this leveling the playing field, and I am committed to supporting the home team.”
The U.S. will surpass China to lead the charge in electric vehicles, President Joe Biden said Wednesday at the opening of General Motors’ EV plant in Detroit, Factory Zero.