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OK. Here’s my take, STRICTLY from a Marketing/Retail angle - because that’s my ‘Wheelhouse.’ ;)

WHY did the big manufacturers not say NO to having Mother Government foist EVs on them?

Why did they not promote the ever-loving HECK out of Hybrids that were half EV/half ICE? I don’t remember that happening, do you? I mean, I KNEW they were available, even knew a few people that bought one, but wouldn’t it make more SENSE to get the Consumer interested in a hybrid FIRST - and then IF (BIG IF!) EVERYONE wanted one - AND YOU HAD THE RECHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE - THEN you invest BILLIONS in these golf carts?

I do not understand who was in charge and why all of this time and effort was WASTED for something Joe Lunch Bucket neither WANTS, NOR CAN AFFORD!

So many stupid, STUPID, expensive mistakes have been made.

The WHIMS of Mother Government never cease to amaze and baffle me!

I can tell you why the manufacturers don’t say no. I tried to market my engineering services to military supply companies during a downturn when they were laying off staff. Clinton was president. I told a purchasing agent, “Here’s your contract. Here’s the services I can do for you at a fraction of your current costs.” He pulled out a letter that had been sent to the company brass. It was from the IRS. It said, essentially, that if they subcontracted their deliverables for any government contract the IRS would sue them and impound their bank accounts. It was couched in diplomatic vagueness, but the meaning was clear. The Clinton administration did not want blanket layoffs in the contracts where they could prevent it from happening because it was political poison. I told the purchasing agent that the IRS would have no cause of action, and they’d win in court. He said that if the IRS seized their accounts they’d be out of business in a week.

Companies do what the government wants because the government says, essentially, “Geez. Dat’s a nice business youse got there. Shame if something should happen to it.”

WHY did the big manufacturers not say NO to having Mother Government foist EVs on them?

Car/Truck manufacturers have to plan five to ten years out. The regulations were in place. Laws were passed. Timelines mandating 100% EVs in ten years in California and the northeast looked to be immutable. They still are in California and parts of Europe. They may have seen a silver lining locking them in place if they get a seat at the table early. Possibly a way to get customers to buy in a subscription based model for lock in on services (electrics lend themselves to it better. Locks out most service competitors)

Only Toyota saw this had to dissolve. CAFE standards are already so strict that even hybrids struggle to meet them. Of course that also brought us Turbo-4s in everything.

Why did they not promote the ever-loving HECK out of Hybrids that were half EV/half ICE?

Toyotas have, at least in the sedan segment. Camry and Crown are hybrid only. The others likely thought that if they were going to be forced into EVs, they may as push those, thinking they were throwing ahead of the runner.