Car Dealers Push Back on EV Mandates, Call on Biden to Reconsider

Dec 03, 2023 09:31 PM EST

A WHITE CAR ON THE ROAD BETWEEN TREES — (Photo : PEXELS/CHRIS F)

Almost 4,000 car dealerships, united under the banner of "EV Voice of the Customer," have sent a powerful message to President Biden, imploring him to reconsider the contentious emissions standards timeline that would necessitate a staggering two-thirds of all new vehicle sales to be electric by 2032. These views echo automakers' concerns that consumers are unprepared for such a revolution.

The Appeal

In a bold move, over 3,800 car dealerships spanning all 50 states have formed a collective known as "EV Voice of the Customer" to the ambitious electric vehicle (EV) mandates proposed by the Biden administration.

Their uniting voice is pressuring President Biden to reconsider severe emissions rules that aim to make two-thirds of new passenger cars all-electric by 2032. Washington Times covered this recent story.

Car dealerships, claiming to understand consumer opinion, contend that the current drive for EVs is not aligned with market demand. Electric vehicles seem to disappoint after the first hype.Despite price cuts, manufacturer incentives, and government support, dealers claim an overstock of unsold battery electric cars (BEVs).

Axios shared about the open letter to President Biden, they emphasize, "With each passing day, it becomes more apparent that this attempted electric vehicle mandate is unrealistic based on current and forecasted customer demand. Electric cars are filling our lots, our best measure of market demand."

This united front of car dealerships echoes automakers' mounting concerns. You're all set! This content reads as if it is human-written.

Protesting controversial EV regulations, these dealers want a more balanced and consumer-driven electric vehicle transition. According to Fox News, Paul LaRochelle, the vice president of Sheehy Auto Stores, a dealership network spanning from Hagerstown, Maryland, to Richmond, Virginia, emphasized to FOX News that the resistance to government mandates on electric vehicles (EVs) isn't solely the perspective of car dealers or their industry peers; it fundamentally stems from the sentiments of their customers.

During an appearance on "The Ingraham Angle," LaRochelle recounted a recent interaction with a customer at one of Sheehy's showrooms that encapsulated this sentiment. You're all set! When the customer inquired about a specific car on display, LaRochelle informed them it was an EV.

In response, the customer expressed skepticism and posed a rhetorical question regarding the potential challenges they might face if the EV were to break down or run out of charge on a congested U.S.-50 during rush hour. This encounter demonstrates consumer concerns, matching car dealers' disgust with EV laws and pushing for a rethink.

In the midst of the growing momentum behind electric vehicle (EV) mandates in various states, car dealers like him are rallying for a more "pragmatic" approach to the transition. They say that consumers have valid concerns, such as the necessity for flatbed rolloffs to rescue EVs on packed Beltway roadways.

As 13 states, led by California and including New Jersey, Maryland, New York, Virginia, Vermont, Oregon, Maine, Connecticut, Colorado, Rhode Island, Washington, and the District of Columbia, implement or consider bans on internal-combustion engine-powered car sales, car dealers are emphasizing the importance of addressing these concerns.

In Virginia, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin is actively working to undo the Commonwealth's scheduled EV mandate, initially instituted by his predecessor, Democrat Ralph Northam, who aligned Virginia with California's standards. Car dealers, collectively advocating through initiatives like the "Voice of the Customer" letter to the federal government, are seeking a balanced and consumer-focused approach to the evolving landscape of EV mandates.

Customers' Sentiments

Customers express a variety of concerns that deter them from embracing electric vehicles (EVs), according to Anderson and other dealers interviewed by Axios. The expensive cost of EVs, lack of home charging infrastructure, and inconvenience of public charging are among these problems.

Some customers have even traded in their EVs, citing issues like reduced driving range when towing or in extreme temperatures and quicker tire wear on EVs. Mary Rice, the owner of a Toyota dealership in Greensboro, N.C., noted that in Toyota's Southeast region, redesigned Prius hybrids are in high demand while fully electric BZ4X SUVs languish on the lot. She noted that dealerships are less likely to sell EVs in the current market due to low consumer demand.