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GM boss Mary Barra (right) in a meeting with Donald Trump in February 2017. Image: EPA
General Motors moves away from Trump and commits to protecting the climate
Automaker General Motors is pulling out of the Trump administration’s fight against stricter consumer regulations in California. This is also a success for the new president Joe Biden.
Joe Biden is serious about the weather. On his first day on the job as president, he wants to reverse America’s withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement. On Monday he named former Secretary of State John Kerry – a friend from days together in the Senate – as what is known as the “climate bazaar,” that is, the special envoy for the climate crisis.
With this, the president-elect is signaling that the fight against climate change is his top priority. Biden can count on the support of the economy: America’s largest automaker General Motors also announced Monday that it no longer wants to fight the Trump administration against stricter consumer rules.
John Kerry (left) was named the top climate protection activist in the United States by his longtime friend Joe Biden. Image: keystone
The recall will take place “immediately,” GM CEO Mary Barra announced in a letter to major environmental organizations. He expressly supported a statement by President-elect Joe Biden that the United States could “dominate the auto market again in the 21st century” with the transition to electric vehicles.
California vs. Trump
The process was “a public humiliation” for Trump, wrote the “New York Times.” Since taking office, the president-elect had made a name for himself as an advocate for fossil fuels and described climate change as a “hoax.” In doing so, he gradually relaxed the stricter environmental guidelines issued by his predecessor, Barack Obama.
This also applies to the fuel consumption of new cars. According to the Obama administration’s guidelines, average consumption should drop significantly by 2025. Donald Trump, on the other hand, wanted to freeze it at the 2020 value. So California decided to tighten emission standards on its own initiative.
In terms of population, the largest state in the United States in terms of population concluded an agreement with manufacturers Ford, Honda, BMW, Volkswagen and Volvo, which was based on Obama’s guidelines with small cuts. California has been allowed to issue stricter regulations since 1968 due to the threat of smog in Los Angeles. The Trump administration wanted to cancel this privilege.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced in September that from 2035 onwards, only cars without internal combustion engines will be allowed in California. Image: keystone
It was supported by General Motors, Toyota, and Fiat Chrysler, who argued that uniform rules should apply in the United States. That, in turn, did not leave California alone. Golden State and 23 other states filed lawsuits last year against the federal government’s attempt to restrict their powers.
GM’s electric offensive
With the deselection of Donald Trump and the departure of GM, the cards are likely to be re-shuffled. A Toyota spokesperson wrote to the New York Times that the situation would be “reassessed,” but that it would continue to push for uniform consumer rules in all 50 states. Fiat Chrysler declined to comment.
Last week, GM announced a veritable electric offensive. By 2025, the model range in the US should consist of 40 percent cars with batteries. Investments in this area will increase by one third to $ 27 billion. “Climate change is real and we want to be part of the solution,” said Mary Barra.
Soon across the country
It would be a real cultural change, because previously General Motors was not known as one of the main sponsors of electric cars. Also last week, the Michigan company had to recall tens of thousands of Chevrolet Bolt EVs from garages due to the risk of battery fires. So far, GM has made a lot of money with SUVs and trucks.
New President Joe Biden welcomed the change of course announced by Mary Barra in a statement Monday. Observers expect it to extend California’s deal with automakers across the country. Responsible Officer Mary Nichols is considered a possible EPA director in the Biden administration.
