Congress last year approved $7.5 billion in government funding for EV charging stations, but legislation has stalled for new tax incentives to purchase and build EVs.
Ford Motor Co. CEO Jim Farley, Chrysler-parent Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, Lucid CEO Peter Rawlinson and Nissan Americas chair Jeremie Papin were among other auto leaders who took part in Wednesday’s meeting, which discussed U.S. funding to “create a national network of 500,000 chargers.”
Also attending were Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy and Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landrieu.
Executives from Hyundai Motor America, Subaru of America, Mazda North America, Toyota Motor Corp., Mercedes-Benz USA and Kia Motors America also took part.
Last week, automakers backed the EPA’s new tougher vehicle emissions regulations in a court challenge brought by some states and ethanol groups.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, representing nearly all major automakers, said the EPA rule “will challenge the industry” but it wants to ensure “critical regulatory provisions supporting electric vehicle technology are maintained.”
Corn growers, a Valero Energy subsidiary and other ethanol producers said the new EPA rules revising emission requirements through 2026 “effectively mandate the production and sale of electric cars rather than cars powered by internal combustion engines.”