President Joe Biden has taken a forceful stance on his green energy agenda, negatively affecting major vehicle manufacturers. Is he really to blame for what is happening, or are there greater forces at play? 

General Motors (GM) has discontinued its plan to manufacture several hundred thousand electric vehicles (EVs) by 2024. The revelation came after discovering multiple problems with their current EV technology. 
The company’s executives have admitted to the delay in launching the Chevrolet Equinox EV, the Chevrolet Silverado EV RST, and the GMC Sierra EV Denali. There has also been a significant recall of Chevy Bolts.

According to the previous GM executive, Bob Lutz, America is not yet ready for the mass adoption of electric vehicles. 
Lutz said: “There are maybe 10 percent to 12 percent of people who want an electric vehicle … the remainder still want internal combustion.” It is a sad truth, but they’re not the only ones pushing back their EV plans. 

Ford, a major car manufacturer, has decided to pause the $12 billion it planned to invest in new EV factory spending. The company had revealed this was caused by slower customer demand.
Honda and GM originally planned to develop a slate of affordable EVs jointly, but now they say the math won’t work.

Hertz has admitted that its newly purchased EVs are twice as expensive to repair as its gas cars, reducing its EV plans.
Conversely, Volkswagen has cited subsidies and competition from China to stop making two of its flagship EVs, the ID.3 and Cupra’s Born.

The Biden administration has offered considerable subsidies to urge auto companies to create electric vehicles. It sounds like a great idea, but auto workers and union members are furious. 
The policy has cost many workers their jobs, and others face significant cutbacks. As far as critics are concerned, Biden’s “green energy agenda” ultimately means outsourcing their jobs to China.

Donald Trump has responded to the situation, and many seem to agree. He said: “The auto workers will not have any jobs because all of these cars will be made in China. The electric cars, automatically, will be made in China.”
He pointed out how auto workers are being sold “down the river by their leadership” and suggested that the leadership endorse him instead. 

Trump said about the UAW president: “I think he’s not doing a good job in representing his union. Because he’s not going to have a union in three years from now. Those jobs are all going to be gone because all of those electric cars are going to be made in China. That’s what’s happening.”

Former Vice President Mike Pence seems to be on the same page as Trump. He believes the Biden administration’s push for EVs was responsible for the United Auto Workers strikes at the Big Three Detroit carmakers’ plants.
He said: “I guarantee you that one of the things driving that strike is that Bidenomics and their green energy. Electric vehicle agenda is good for Beijing and bad for Detroit, and American autoworkers know it.”

Stellantis employee and UAW member Kym Dieselberg voted for Joe Biden before. However, she seems to have seen the error of her ways. Dieselberg now says she will never do it again. 
Her sentiments are valid, and many other Americans feel the same way. But is that enough to give Trump a chance? 

On the topic of EVs, Dieselberg believes Biden could do better. She said: “We have Biden who won’t even pick a side. And I think today they said he did say that we need it, which is nice for him to finally say something. But it is disheartening because I voted for him, and it breaks my heart.”

When news correspondent Leland Vittert asked Dieselberg, “Would you vote for him again?” Her answer was a clear no. 
She said: “Because when you make a promise, and you say you’re something and you don’t come through — that’s why you don’t like politics because politicians — I hate to say it, but if someone was just honest, I think someone would get voted in.”

Many believe that EVs will eventually be adopted on a massive level. However, experts think the adoption curve will be jagged, with periods of stagnation in between. The early adopters all seem to have adopted EVs. However, the more cautious and conservative masses are left of the population, and they need to be sold on the idea of an electric vehicle.