In Elon Musk’s recent interview with The Kilowatt’s Ryan Levenson, he brings the President’s impartial love for General Motors. He called out that President Joe Biden’s love affair is apparent with GM. Adds that despite the automaker just delivering 26 EVs in Q4 2021, it is being preferred.
In recent times GM has been portrayed as a leader in the electrification transition in the automobile industry. On many occasions, the White House preferred General Motors and other automakers without bringing up Tesla anywhere. It is well known that Tesla has topped the electric vehicle industry. The rough patch between Tesla and the White House is evident.
It appears that on many occasions, Biden seemed to refuse to bring up Tesla in any case. While Tesla did not deliver the first electric vehicle to ever grace roadways in the United States, it has delivered more of them than any other manufacturer. The company has singlehandedly disrupted the entire automotive industry and influenced large automakers to adopt significant EV strategies, funneling billions into electric vehicle development. Musk acknowledged Tesla’s influence in the sector but also openly stated that Biden and the White House are controlled by the UAW so much that it was able to exclude Tesla from an EV Summit held in Washington.
Preference
Later, Biden would end up recognizing GM CEO Mary Barra as the leader of the electrification. Musk said, “They have so much power over the White House that they can exclude Tesla from an EV Summit. And, in case of the first thing, in case that wasn’t enough, then you have President Biden with Mary Barra at a subsequent event, congratulating Mary for having led the EV revolution.”
“I believe it was in the same quarter that GM delivered 26 electric vehicles and Tesla delivered 300,000,” Musk said referring to GM’s deliveries in Q4 2021.
Musk’s points are incredibly valid, not only because the White House has devoted a specific loyalty to UAW-run plants (even offering additional funds to a revised version of the EV tax credit if the vehicle was built at a union facility), but because Tesla has routinely outperformed GM in EVs. GM’s 26 deliveries last quarter were due to a recall of Bolt EV and EUV units that dealt with battery issues, and the GMC Hummer EV had not yet reached regular production. Nevertheless, General Motors has lofty plans for EVs and has set aside $35 billion for projects related to its electrification transition.
