Donald Trump is now the president of the United States again. He used his inauguration speech to promise to drop requirements for electric cars immediately.
Donald Trump is promising to immediately lift electric car requirements in the United States. He has announced that he will cancel regulations that require automakers to lower their emissions and increase production of electric cars.
A step that marks a clear political change of course compared to the now former Biden administration.
"We are canceling the electric car mandate immediately," said Donald Trump.
The so-called Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule was introduced during Joe Biden's presidency.
The law required that up to 56 percent of new cars be electric by 2032. However, Trump has stated that such requirements put unnecessary pressure on automakers and threaten jobs in the industry.
In his inauguration speech, Trump emphasized that he wants to protect the American auto industry. He said, among other things:
– We will save our auto industry and keep our caps on auto workers. You can buy any car you want, and we will produce more cars than ever before.
At the same time, Trump announced that the United States will invest in domestic oil production. This includes resuming oil drilling in Alaska and a planned national energy emergency to increase fossil fuel production.
– Drill baby, drill… We have the largest supply of oil and gas in the world, and we need to use it, he said.
Trump has also made it clear that the United States will withdraw from the Paris Agreement. The agreement was previously seen as an important step in the fight against climate change, but Trump argues that it hinders economic growth and harms American industry.
For the European car industry, Trump's policy could have serious consequences. He has threatened punitive tariffs on foreign cars and other goods to protect American production.
"I will immediately overhaul our customs systems to protect American workers and families," Trump declared.
The punitive tariffs could potentially hit European car manufacturers hard, as they are already facing economic challenges and increasing competition from Asian manufacturers.
This decision to pull the US away from electric vehicle requirements and international climate goals is seen by some as a challenge to the global effort to combat climate change. For Trump, however, it is primarily about securing economic growth and jobs in the US.
However, Donald Trump does not seem to want to change one specific thing that his predecessor decided. The ban on Chinese cars, which was adopted shortly before the change of power, is still in place. It is expected to hit Volvo and Polestar hard, among others. Even though both car brands build cars in the USA.
