Within a three-week span, 3,882 dealerships, representing all major vehicle manufacturing brands across 50 states, have penned a letter urging President Biden to reassess the implementation of an electric vehicle mandate. The letter underscored their concerns regarding consumer readiness, infrastructure shortcomings, and technological challenges involved. Joining this nationwide push are 86 dealerships from Georgia.
Nalley Honda, located in Union City, was among the 86 Georgia-based dealerships that endorsed the letter – according to data provided by ‘EV Voice of the Customer’.
The primary concern underlined in the letter by ‘EV Voice of the Customer’ is related to regulations demanding a swift transition to battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Such regulations require an annual increase that results in two-thirds of all vehicles sold in America being battery electric by 2032.
The letter further sheds light on rising inventories of unsold electric vehicles as an indicator of insufficient customer demand. Dealerships emphasize doubts about affordability and charging accessibility while noting weather-related limitations. They argue that most customers are not ready for electric cars due to a significant gap between current technology and consumer requirements in the drive for broader adoption of electric vehicles.
More time is sought in the letter for advancements in battery technology, improving BEVs’ affordability, sourcing battery minerals domestically, developing reliable charging infrastructure, and crucially allowing American consumers sufficient time to acquaint themselves with this technology before endorsing widespread adoption.
Information from ‘EV Voice of the Customer’ shows Florida leading with 413 signing dealerships followed by California with 336 and Texas with 281 signatories.
A Fox News report highlighted Ford’s recent announcement indicating a slowdown in its F-150 Lightning pickup production. Furthermore, there is also a temporary halt at its Kentucky battery factory construction and a delay on $12 billion intended for EV production.
