Trump Reiterates Welcome for Chinese Automakers to Build Factories in the US and Vows to End Biden’s Electric Vehicle Policies on Day One of His Term.
Biden Encourages EVs vs. Trump Protects Fuel-Powered Car Jobs
Biden Targets Chinese-Made EVs vs. Trump Targets All Non-US Made Cars
However, Trump Welcomes All Automakers to Produce in the US but Offers No Subsidies
Former President Trump reaffirmed his open stance towards Chinese automakers manufacturing cars in the US as a way to boost the American economy, signaling a potential departure from the Biden administration’s efforts to exclude China-linked vehicles.
Speaking at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Thursday, Trump said, “As we speak, China is building massive factories on the Mexican border to produce cars for the US market. These factories will be built in the US, and our people will work in these factories,” he added, threatening to impose tariffs of up to 200% on each car to prevent them from entering the US.
This statement mirrors his comments from a rally in Ohio in March, where he welcomed Chinese car companies to build factories in the US without naming specific companies. It is reported that China’s largest EV manufacturer, BYD (01211), is seeking to establish one of the largest car factories in Mexico.
Both Trump and Biden aim to block Chinese-made cars from entering the US to protect domestic manufacturers. However, when it comes to Chinese companies producing cars in the US, Trump seems to take a more transactional approach.
In contrast, Biden has extensively scrutinized vehicles connected to China, including those potentially produced outside the US. The Biden administration has also investigated cars equipped with Chinese-made software, claiming such software could jeopardize American citizens’ data and security.
Additionally, Trump criticized Biden’s electric vehicle policies, vowing to take contrary action on his first day in office. “I will end the electric vehicle mandates on my first day in office,” he said, “which will save the American auto industry from total destruction and save American consumers tens of thousands of dollars on each car.”
It is noted that the Biden administration does not have specific mandates on electric vehicles, but critics of the new air pollution limits issued by the US Environmental Protection Agency in March argue that these regulations will illegally force automakers to sell electric vehicles.
Shortly before making his statements about electric vehicles, Trump condemned what he called wasteful multi-trillion-dollar expenditures related to the “Green New Scam.” He said he would redirect those funds to projects like roads, bridges, and dams, although it remains unclear how he would fulfill these promises.
Trump has made no secret of his disdain for electric vehicles, claiming that the strategy to develop them does not work, benefits China and Mexico, and harms American auto workers. In contrast, Biden has made the transition to electric vehicles a top priority in his climate and industrial policies, aiming for 50% of new car sales to be electric by 2030.
Credit: ElectricVehicleFinance
