The transition from gas-powered automobiles to electric vehicles is a key issue at the heart of Joe Biden’s presidency, and it is one that former President Donald Trump is fiercely addressing with escalating rhetoric. This issue holds significant weight, particularly in critical battleground territory.
Biden’s industrial policy and climate change agenda is marked by a comprehensive approach that includes subsidies to enhance electric vehicle manufacturing, the implementation of federal standards to reduce emissions, investments in charging infrastructure, and tax credits to incentivize electric vehicle purchases. This ambitious plan represents a significant effort to advance both economic growth and environmental sustainability. As part of his commitment, Biden has visited electric vehicle assembly lines and battery plants, highlighting the job opportunities created and the growing number of Americans embracing electric vehicles.
Trump and his allies have been focusing on that agenda, especially in Michigan, which has been the center of the American auto industry for a long time. They have expressed concerns about potential mass job losses and criticized the high cost and lack of electric infrastructure for vehicles. They also argue that electric vehicles have yet to match the performance of their gas-powered counterparts.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, auto manufacturing jobs are on the rise, and there is a noticeable decrease in the prices of certain electric car models. However, the Biden administration has recently reduced its goal for electric vehicle adoption by 2032. Originally aiming for a 67% adoption rate, the new target is now approximately half that amount. This adjustment was made in response to opposition from both auto labor and management.
The battleground for this fierce competition is expected to be the state of Michigan, which is fiercely contested, as well as Georgia, a purple state that has attracted billions of dollars in electric vehicle investments from car manufacturers. Interestingly, a significant number of new electric vehicle-related factories that have been established in recent years are located in red states like South Carolina and Kentucky. Local lawmakers in these states have highlighted the positive impact on the local economy, while the absence of strong union protections allows for lower labor costs.
Many major automakers and industry players perceive the shift towards electric vehicles as an unavoidable reality that they are eager to embrace. Rather than viewing it as a catastrophic event, they recognize it as a crucial measure to tackle climate change and safeguard their financial performance.
During an event in Grand Rapids, Michigan, focused on immigration, Trump expressed his strong opposition to Biden’s electric vehicle incentives. He went as far as calling them “one of the dumbest [decisions] I’ve ever heard” and raised concerns about the potential negative impact on the U.S. economy. Trump warned of a “bloodbath” in the economy, claiming that the policies would “kill” the auto industry and result in a significant loss of jobs. Additionally, he expressed his belief that these incentives would benefit Chinese and Mexican auto manufacturers.
“It’s such a shame that we’re not leveraging our strengths,” he remarked, highlighting the abundant oil and gas reserves in the U.S. He vowed to put an end to these policies straight away, emphasizing that they only serve to play into the hands of others.”
Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, a Democrat, voiced her frustration regarding the way Trump and other Republicans have presented the matter. McMorrow recognized that electric vehicles are still too expensive for many consumers and that there is still work to be done in bringing the EV supply chain back onshore. She stated, “This transition will require time.”
She emphasized that not pursuing the transition is not an option, highlighting that several other countries are actively pursuing phase-outs of vehicles with internal combustion engines.
“If workers are convinced by Donald Trump that there is an alternative to transitioning, our automakers will suffer the consequences. Without customers, especially in a global market, these businesses could go bankrupt,” she warned. “It’s challenging to convey this nuanced message.”
According to Republicans interviewed by NBC News, their concern lies not with electric vehicles themselves, but with what they perceive as the Biden administration’s hasty approach to transitioning this sector of the economy. They believe that the transition should take place after ensuring that the electric grid and infrastructure are fully prepared to handle the increased demand.
According to Republican Michigan state Senator Ed McBroom, there is still a significant amount of skepticism surrounding the long-term viability of electric vehicles dominating the transportation system in the near future. McBroom shared that many people he has spoken to express doubts about the sustainability of electric vehicles.
Surveys have yielded varied opinions and a clear divide among political parties regarding the transition. According to a survey conducted by Pew Research Center, 59% of U.S. adults expressed opposition to the phasing out of new gasoline vehicles by 2035, which is an increase from the 51% recorded in 2021. The survey also revealed that 84% of Republicans and Republican-leaning adults were against the shift, while 64% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning adults showed support. However, it is worth noting that the number of Republicans and Democrats opposing the transition has increased since 2021.
According to a recent Gallup survey, the ownership of electric vehicles in the United States has seen a significant increase, with 7% of Americans now owning an electric vehicle, up from 4% just a year ago. However, the survey also revealed a decline in the number of Americans considering buying electric vehicles, dropping from 43% to 35% compared to the previous year. Notably, the survey highlighted a partisan divide, with Republicans being 42 points more likely than Democrats to express reluctance towards purchasing electric vehicles and 22 points more likely than independents.
A recent statewide survey conducted in Michigan by the Detroit Regional Chamber and the Glengariff Group revealed that 46% of likely Michigan voters are in favor of the transition to electric vehicles, while 44% oppose it. The survey, which had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points, highlighted a clear divide between Democrats who largely support the shift and Republicans who largely oppose it. Independent voters showed a preference for the transition by 8 points. Interestingly, voters in the Detroit metro area favored the shift by a significant margin of 20 points, whereas those in other parts of the state were opposed to it by 10 points.
During a focus group conducted with Michigan voters who are either union members or have family members in unions, both Trump and Biden supporters expressed concerns about the transition to electric vehicles. However, the majority of concerns centered around consumer worries, such as the perceived performance gap between electric and gas-powered vehicles, as well as the lack of infrastructure for widespread adoption. Job losses were not a primary concern among the participants. These focus group sessions were conducted in partnership with Syracuse University and Sago, an international market research company, as part of the NBC News Deciders Focus Group series.
All the voters interviewed, however, disagreed with Trump’s claim that Biden’s electric vehicle policies would result in a “bloodbath” that would eliminate jobs in the auto industry. Furthermore, none of them stated that these policies had any impact on their likelihood of supporting Biden’s candidacy.
“I don’t think it’s necessarily a positive or negative thing,” expressed Andrea G., a resident of Warren, Michigan and a supporter of Biden. “In my opinion, it’s still a relatively recent development, and there is much more to learn about it. I don’t possess all the facts myself, and I believe the same is true for others.”
Since Biden assumed office in January 2021, the auto industry has witnessed significant job growth on a national level. According to preliminary job figures for March from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there has been a surge in employment in motor vehicle and parts manufacturing, reaching a level not seen in almost 20 years. This translates to an impressive addition of approximately 120,000 jobs during the Biden administration.
The auto manufacturing sector experienced a growth of approximately 55,000 jobs in the initial two years of Trump’s presidency. However, a downturn in the industry began shortly before the pandemic, and the Covid virus further impacted job growth. Ultimately, Trump’s tenure resulted in a net loss of 8,000 jobs in the auto manufacturing sector, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
During the Biden administration in Michigan, there has been a gain of approximately 3,000 jobs in motor vehicle manufacturing, as per the preliminary March figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, the auto parts manufacturing sector has experienced a decline, with around 4,000 jobs lost. In comparison, under Trump’s presidency, there was a net loss of approximately 1,000 jobs in motor vehicle manufacturing and 8,000 jobs in the auto parts manufacturing sector.
During negotiations between the Detroit automakers and the United Auto Workers last year, the impact of the EV push on job opportunities took center stage. Workers expressed their concerns about the perception that electric vehicles require less labor to manufacture, leading to a decrease in available jobs.
Republicans in Michigan have strongly voiced their opposition to the policies, with this particular point being at the forefront of their criticism.
According to Pete Hoekstra, the state GOP chairman, jobs in Michigan are at stake not only for auto manufacturers but also for auto parts suppliers.
According to the speaker, electric vehicles (EVs) require 40% less labor to assemble compared to cars with internal combustion engines. This is expected to have a significant impact on the job market. While some jobs will be replaced due to the introduction of EVs, it is still likely to result in a significant net loss of high-quality, high-paying jobs in Michigan. However, the speaker acknowledges the benefits of having EV production in Michigan rather than elsewhere.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have discovered that the production of electric vehicles will result in an increase in the overall labor hours needed to manufacture a car.
According to Kate Whitefoot, an associate professor of mechanical engineering and engineering and public policy who contributed to the study, the belief that electric vehicles require less labor is based on a simplistic perspective that assumes fewer parts equate to less labor.
According to her, this is simply not true. She pointed out that the study actually discovered that when considering the number of processes involved rather than the number of parts, the production of electric vehicles may result in an increase in manufacturing-worker hours.
Electric vehicles are currently a small portion of the overall auto market, and their growth is starting to slow down. According to Mark Schirmer, a spokesperson for Cox Automotive, an automotive data firm, electric vehicles are still more expensive compared to the average car. However, he also mentioned that they are getting closer to price parity. The slowdown in electric vehicle sales can be attributed to the decline in Tesla’s sales, as they are the leading player in the U.S. electric vehicle market.
Trump sees the electric vehicle policies as a chance to target Biden’s reputation among workers, his economic strategy, and his approach to China, a dominant player in the EV industry.
According to a statement from Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump, the electric vehicle mandate proposed by Joe Biden is considered extreme and will compel Americans to purchase expensive cars that they neither desire nor can afford. Leavitt argues that this policy will not only harm the U.S. auto industry but also negatively impact jobs and consumers. She further suggests that this radical approach will result in the loss of livelihoods for numerous American autoworkers, ultimately benefitting China’s auto industry instead of the United States.
According to former Rep. Andy Levin, a Democrat from Michigan, President Trump has not only distorted a kernel of truth but has also taken it beyond recognition.
“The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is being carefully managed to align with the support of the UAW and auto companies,” he explained. “While Trump’s stance may be fiery, it’s important to note that the U.S. automakers and the union are actively collaborating with Biden on his EV plan.”
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