Posted on 11/29/2023 7:49:57 PM PST by SeekAndFind
A Letter to the President Dear Mr. President,
We are auto dealers from across the country who collectively sell every major brand in the U.S. We are small businesses employing thousands of Americans. We are deeply committed to the customers we serve and the communities where we operate, which is why we are asking you to slow down your proposed regulations mandating battery electric vehicle (BEV) production and distribution.
Your Administration has proposed regulations that would essentially mandate a dramatic shift to battery electric vehicles (BEVs), increasing year after year until 2032, when two out of every three vehicles sold in America would have to be battery electric.
Currently, there are many excellent battery electric vehicles available for consumers to purchase. These vehicles are ideal for many people, and we believe their appeal will grow over time. The reality, however, is that electric vehicle demand today is not keeping up with the large influx of BEVs arriving at our dealerships prompted by the current regulations. BEVs are stacking up on our lots.
Last year, there was a lot of hope and hype about EVs. Early adopters formed an initial line and were ready to buy these vehicles as soon as we had them to sell. But that enthusiasm has stalled. Today, the supply of unsold BEVs is surging, as they are not selling nearly as fast as they are arriving at our dealerships -- even with deep price cuts, manufacturer incentives, and generous government incentives.
While the goals of the regulations are admirable, they require consumer acceptance to become a reality. With each passing day, it becomes more apparent that this attempted electric vehicle mandate is unrealistic based on current and forecasted customer demand. Already, electric vehicles are stacking up on our lots which is our best indicator of customer demand in the marketplace.
Mr. President, no government agency, no think tank, and no polling firm knows more about the automobile customer than us. We talk to customers every day. As retail automotive dealerships, we are agnostic as to what we sell. Our business is to provide customers with vehicles that meet the needs of their budgets and lifestyles.
Some customers are in the market for electric vehicles, and we are thrilled to sell them. But the majority of customers are simply not ready to make the change. They are concerned about BEVs being unaffordable. Many do not have garages for home charging or easy access to public charging stations. Customers are also concerned about the loss of driving range in cold or hot weather. Some have long daily commutes and don’t have the extra time to charge the battery. Truck buyers are especially put off by the dramatic loss of range when towing. Today’s current technology is not adequate to support the needs of the majority of our consumers.
Many of these challenges can and will be addressed by our manufacturers, but many of these challenges are outside of their control. Reliable charging networks, electric grid stability, sourcing of materials, and many other issues need time to resolve. And finally, many people just want to make their own choice about what vehicle is right for them.
Mr. President, it is time to tap the brakes on the unrealistic government electric vehicle mandate. Allow time for the battery technology to advance. Allow time to make BEVs more affordable. Allow time to develop domestic sources for the minerals to make batteries. Allow time for the charging infrastructure to be built and prove reliable. And most of all, allow time for the American consumer to get comfortable with the technology and make the choice to buy an electric vehicle.
Sincerely, Supporting Dealerships
President Biden's green revolution stands no chance in a high interest rate environment.
And we wonder if the EV price war sparked by Elon Musk earlier this year with major automakers means Tesla is soaking up market share - or if they, too, are experiencing demand troubles.
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Biden’s kids drive Porsches and Joe has a Corvette in the garage.
Joe’s family doesn’t even know anyone in the middle class.
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When you take bailouts from the government, they get to call the tune. It’s called socialism.
I’m guessing most of these dealers know this letter will go right into the trash.
One that didn’t was Ford. They borrowed and risked all including the Ford oval badge but paid back the loan early.
GM was run into the ground and was guilty of government welfare acceptance. We lost Pontiac and Oldsmobile.
Interview with the letter author today. He said they hope to get the government to allow hybrids as mandatory EV statistics fulfillment loopholes.
Tried to gently say Biden and the Commies are out of their minds about EVs.
RE: He said they hope to get the government to allow hybrids as mandatory EV statistics fulfillment loopholes.
Here’s a better idea — Government GET OUT of determining what type of car a customer wants to drive. Let the market ( that means all of us collectively ) decide.
We really can’t be certain of any of this until TeslaGator weighs in.
TeslaHumper told me everything was good don’t worry about selling those pieces of crap just keep them plugged in like toasters
“Here’s a better idea — Government GET OUT of determining what type of car a customer wants to drive. Let the market ( that means all of us collectively ) decide.”
That’s silly talk! </sarc>
I want a spring powered car. One you wind up at home, maybe by a wind tower, and then drive it all day until the spring winds down... Of course it’d have to have a regulator or some sort and one hell of a good breaking system...maybe the breaks are another spring getting wound up? Except for friction, it’d be a perpetual motion machine!
Excellent idea. But that would require that we would live in a free country.
When automatic transmissions became available the people could still choose a stick shift. Today they would have said the government is ending stick shifts in 5 years.
And they could have demanded we buy 8 track cartridges and like it.
Letting the market decide is part of the genius of free market capitalism.
Bookmark.
“One that didn’t was Ford. They borrowed and risked all including the Ford oval badge but paid back the loan early.
GM was run into the ground and was guilty of government welfare acceptance. We lost Pontiac and Oldsmobile.”
The dealers with the wrong political orientation were shut out. A few dealers in our area got closed down.
I think it’s beginning to dawn on the auto dealerships that the goal isn’t to switch to EVs, but to make it impossible for the average person to afford a car.
Take a look at the charger stocks like CHPT. CHPT was ~$12 a year ago and is now trading at $2..
Lousy letter. Too soft and holds out hope that the EV can eventually work and be attractive and competitive. Not likely. It will remain a solution in search of a problem not found.
“While the goals of the regulations are admirable, ...”
This is every conservative failure for the last 90 years. Accept the premises of the Left, and quibble about the details.
Nobody asked for them and they are limited use, inconvenient vehicles.
FJB
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