Thousands of auto dealers across the U.S. are making a vocal stand against President Joe Biden’s push for electric vehicles.
A group of nearly 4,000 car dealers let the president know in a letter Tuesday that battery electric vehicles “are stacking up on our lots,” as they called on the administration to “tap the brakes” on harmful mandates.
Biden’s aggressive tailpipe emissions standards came under fire by the group known as “EV Voice of the Customer” which included dealers from every state in the nation. The proposed regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) push for two-thirds of all new vehicles sold to be electric by 2032.
“In just three weeks, 3,882 dealerships reflecting the voice of our customers, representing all major vehicle manufacturing brands spanning 50 states, called on the President of the United States to tap the brakes on the proposed Electric Vehicle Mandate,” the coalition of auto dealers noted.
“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,” the open letter to Biden stated.
“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,” the letter continued.
The dealers noted that the EPA regulations have “admirable” goals but they are also “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,” they said, explaining that their goal is to essentially make the customer happy, not mandate what they should buy.
“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 noted, explaining how high purchase prices, the availability of charging stations, as well as driving range affect consumers’ perception of EVs.
“Today’s current technology is not adequate to support the needs of the majority of our consumers,” the dealers told Biden.
“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,’ the letter stated.
“Mr. President, it is time to tap the brakes on the unrealistic government electric vehicle mandate,” the dealers concluded, urging Biden to allow time for many of the technology and other barriers to be addressed.
“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,” they wrote.
One dealer who signed on to the letter said they can’t even get customers to test drive the EVs.
“Well, needless to say, it’s more than frustration, historically we have a 30-day supply of vehicles on our lot, and post-COVID, 90 days, but we’re now looking at 12 months back up of electric vehicles,” New Jersey-based auto dealer Tom Maoli said on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom,”, adding that “Consumers are not buying them.”
OVER 3K CAR DEALERS URGE BIDEN TO SLOW EV MANDATES. A coalition of more than 3,000 auto dealers nationwide is sending an open letter to President Biden, calling on him to “tap the brakes” on his administration’s aggressive electric vehicle (EV) push.https://t.co/4oLGeJ3kai… pic.twitter.com/KsekxGkfKJ — America’s Newsroom (@AmericaNewsroom) November 29, 2023
“We can’t even get [the customers] to test drive them, some of the manufacturers are offering $12,500 rebates along with the $7,500 tax credit from the government,” he told Fox News host Dana Perino. “You’re talking about a $20,000 reduction from the vehicle and the consumers still don’t love them.”
The White House continues to tout Biden’s EV mandates, however.
“President Biden is investing in a future that is made in America by American workers as we position the United States to lead the clean energy future,” a White House spokesperson told Fox Business in a statement. “Bidenomics is growing the domestic EV and EV charging industry — creating good-paying union jobs in manufacturing and installation, lowering energy costs for hardworking families, improving air quality, and building the economy from the middle out and the bottom up.”
“More Americans are buying EVs every day — with EV sales rising faster than traditional gas-powered cars — as the President’s Inflation Reduction Act makes EVs more affordable and helps Americans save money when driving,” the statement said.