Biden administration holds EV industry meeting with Musk, Barra (updated)
07/04/2022 04:02
(Adds more details)
By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON, April 6 (Reuters) - The Biden administration
said senior officials held a meeting Wednesday with major
automotive leaders including Tesla TSLA.O Chief Executive Elon
Musk and General Motors GM.N Chief Executive Mary Barra to
discuss electric vehicles and charging.
The administration said in a statement "there was broad
consensus that charging stations and vehicles need to be
interoperable and provide a seamless user experience, no matter
what car you drive or where you charge your EV."
Musk has often been at odds with the White House, frequently
firing off harsh tweets directed at President Joe Biden. In
February, Biden publicly acknowledged the role of Tesla in U.S.
electric vehicle manufacturing, after Musk repeatedly complained
about being ignored.
Congress last year approved $7.5 billion in government
funding for EV charging stations, but legislation has stalled
for new tax incentives to purchase and build EVs.
Ford Motor F.N Chief Executive Jim Farley, Chrysler-parent
Stellantis STLA.MI CEO Carlos Tavares, Lucid LCID.O CEO
Peter Rawlinson and Nissan Americas 7201.T chair Jeremie Papin
were among other auto leaders who took part in Wednesday's
meeting, which discussed U.S. funding to "create a national
network of 500,000 chargers."
Also attending were Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg,
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, National Climate Advisor
Gina McCarthy and Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landrieu.
Executives from Hyundai Motor America 005380.KS , Subaru of
America 9778.T , Mazda North America, Toyota Motor North
America Mercedes-Benz USA MBGn.DE and Kia Motors America
000270.KS also took part.
Last week, automakers backed the Environmental Protection
Agency's (EPA) new tougher vehicle emissions regulations in a
court challenge brought by some states and ethanol groups.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, representing nearly
all major automakers, said the EPA rule "will challenge the
industry" but it wants to ensure "critical regulatory provisions
supporting electric vehicle technology are maintained."
Corn growers, a Valero Energy VLO.N subsidiary and other
ethanol producers said the new EPA rules revising emission
requirements through 2026 "effectively mandate the production
and sale of electric cars rather than cars powered by internal
combustion engines."
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and
Bradley Perrett)
((David.Shepardson@thomsonreuters.com; 2028988324;))