Are we still convinced that electric vehicles are the best way forward?

[teamzr1]

GM backtracking more on EVs and more on gas-engined models

General Motors Co. will continue making gas engined Cadillac's XT5 at its Spring Hill, Tennessee, plant past 2026, the Detroit automaker has confirmed.
"The current-generation Cadillac XT5, an important part of our global portfolio, will remain in production until the end of 2026," spokesperson Kevin Kelly said in a statement. "The XT5 will continue to live-on as a next-generation gas powered vehicle beyond that timeframe."
Commitment to the compact luxury SUV shows continued investment in gas-powered vehicles as electric vehicle adoption lags in the United States.

Executives had sought to electrify the entire Cadillac fleet and phase out production of its gas-powered lineup
. But driver interest in EVs continues to fall behind industry expectations and likely will drop further as $7,500 EV tax credits end in September and the Trump administration seeks to axe emissions regulations.

"As Cadillac evolves, we will continue to make necessary adjustments to our portfolio to meet customer demand," Kelly said.
Cadillac is discontinuing its entry-level, gas-powered XT4 and three-row XT6 SUVs after this model year.
But executives have said the brand will continue to manufacture the gas-powered midsize XT5 and Escalade SUVs.

 

[teamzr1]

American gas-powered vehicles, including the country's iconic pickup trucks, will not die away as drivers have turned their backs on EVs.
The surge in gas engines is due to Donald Trump's push to exile EVs, so the nation's auto industry can thrive especially in Detroit, the 'car capital' of the world.

US automakers are going back to their roots after switching their focus to electric vehicles that first became popular in 2010, and gained more notice in recent years.
Although EVs are meant to be better for the planet, car manufacturers have had to use more resources to keep up with the fuel-efficient standards.

Ford, a top US car brand based out of Detroit, is already gearing up for the shift and changing its lineup by adding more commercial vehicles and large SUVs and taking out some EVs.
'This is a multibillion-dollar opportunity over the next couple of years,' Jim Farley, the Chief Executive of Ford Motors, said in a call with analysts last week.

Trump's car policy changes came after he announced a 25 percent tariff on imported cars that came into effect in April.
Most electric cars sold in the US are already built domestically, meaning they won’t be affected by the tariff.
Still, there are costs associated with EVs that companies have to front.
Because of the push to move back to gas cars, the auto industry is looking up because the fees that come with EVs will start to lower.

With EVs, the industry has to pay regulatory credits and fuel-economy rule-violation fines.
Ford, GM and Stellantis a Dutch automaker have shelled out about $10 billion on regulatory credits and fuel-economy rule-violation fines since 2022, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Although General Motors has hoped to get rid of internal combustion engines by 2035, the company has since changed its tune and told its investors there are benefits to keeping gas cars in the lineup.

During a recent call, Stellantis, who owns car companies like Jeep and Toyota, highlighted how Trump's Big Beautiful Bill allows them to add more gas-powered vehicles to the mix on dealership lots.
'This will mean to us a lot of additional profit,' Antonio Filosa, the CEO of Stellantis, who started the position in June, said.

In a July 29 memo reviewed by WSJ, Stellantis wrote that they would prefer to satisfy its customers demands over anything.
'In these uncertain times of heavy competition and tariffs, there are auto workers all over the world who would happily trade their uncertainty for our customer demand and company commitment,' the company stated.
In recent months, Stellantis, which also owns Ram, has been dealing with part shortages.

Just last week, the automaker had to add shifts to a factory in Michigan in a bid to speed up production for its famed Ram 1500 trucks.
Although the setback was not specifically related to the regulatory charges, Stellantis will thrive from the surge in gas cars by not having to pay millions for fines and fuel-economy rule violations.

In order to see how the new trend will affect the company, Stellantis plans to keep an eye on the production conflict at the Ram Michigan factory regularly.
Companies aren't the only ones excited about the change, as dealerships are also on board.
'Americans do like buying giant vehicles,' Adam Lee, chairman of Maine-based Lee Auto Malls, told the outlet.
'They’re going to see how many more giant SUVs they can pump out, because they sell a lot of them and make a lot of money on them.'

Despite being excited, Lee said he hopes some EVs will still remain.
'Otherwise, we’re going to find out we’re the only country in the world not embracing fuel-efficient vehicles and EVs,' he said.
With the change, several big brands have back-pedaled with their EV plans as they anticipate the shift.

Mary Barra, the CEO of GM, originally dictated to make the company fully EV in 10 years, but now she is mulling the idea that gas-powered cars could come back into play.
With that, her company continues to roll out EV cars, as she thinks the change will actually give GM a chance to sell more of those vehicles.
'It also gives us the opportunity to sell EV vehicles,' Barra stated while on a recent earnings call.
'Excuse me, ICE vehicles, for longer and appreciate the profitability of those vehicles.'

 

[teamzr1]

Vermont Ends Electric Vehicle Mandate, Sparking Debate Over Progressive Policies**
In a surprising turn of events, Vermont's Governor Phil Scott has issued an executive order halting the state's electric vehicle (EV) sales mandate.

This mandate, which sought to require that 35% of all vehicles delivered to Vermont dealerships be zero-emission by the 2026 model year, has been put on pause amid a growing realization that many states are facing challenges aligning with overly ambitious green energy policies.
The recent decision resonates with a significant trend across several states, including Virginia and Maryland, where similar attempts to adopt California-style mandates have been stalled.

Governor Scott highlighted key concerns from auto manufacturers regarding the state's inadequate charging infrastructure and the lack of technological advancements necessary to fulfill such stringent goals.
“It’s clear we don’t have anywhere near enough charging infrastructure and insufficient technological advances in heavy-duty vehicles to meet current goals,” Scott stated, underscoring the practical considerations behind his decision.

Local auto dealers have also welcomed the news, recognizing that the existing demand for EVs in Vermont simply does not match the regulatory expectations set forth by progressive policymakers.
As data shows, only about 14% of new cars registered in the state last year were zero-emission vehicles.

This predicament raises critical questions: if a state like Vermont boasting a favorable EV charging network cannot support such mandates, what does it mean for the rest of the nation, particularly states heavily reliant on fossil fuels?
Moreover, the potential opportunity for neighboring states that have not adopted California's regulations may allow them to capitalize on Vermont's shift, creating a competitive market for traditional gas-powered vehicles.

In light of these developments, the recent House-passed bill aimed at revoking California's waiver to impose strict emissions regulations further amplifies the changing tide in energy policy.
Indeed, with the Trump administration's strong stance in support of maintaining state autonomy in energy matters, it's evident that the narrative surrounding environmental regulations is undergoing a significant transformation.

As states like Vermont reconsider their paths, one wonders if California Governor Gavin Newsom, currently trying to reshape his image, might soon follow suit in delaying or even scrapping his state’s contentious EV mandates, amidst a broader critique of overreaching environmental regulations.
In a political landscape marked by an increasing pushback against overly ambitious green policies, Vermont's decision sheds light on the practical challenges that many states are grappling with, making it clear that the conversation around energy and climate change needs to evolve beyond ideological boundaries.

 

[Chuffer]

I hope that UK politicians sit up and take note as we don`t have the infrastucture to support mass EV charging either .

 

[CaptainK]

Now if only we can also get the car manufacturers to include a manual gearbox option in all their cars. EVs and Auto Petrol/Diesel cars - currently I personally am not interested in them (unless Ferrari, Lambo, Aston, etc). At the end of the day, public roads are slow places, but a manual gearbox in a normal (non-exotica) car makes it more fun to me.

 

[teamzr1]

According to a recent study by S&P Global, it’s clear that Americans have a strong preference for traditional gas-powered vehicles over electric cars, and this trend is not merely influenced by nostalgia.

The report states that owners of combustion engines are keeping their vehicles for an average of 12.5 years, a remarkable increase from previous trends. This contrasts sharply with electric vehicle owners, who are replacing their vehicles every 3.6 years.

This statistic highlights the confidence Americans have in internal combustion vehicles, prized for their reliability, particularly for long-distance travel. Many households maintain at least one gas-powered car to ensure freedom from the limitations often associated with electric vehicles, such as charging infrastructure and range anxiety.

Price inflation across the board has also played a significant role in this trend. Despite the higher initial costs associated with electric vehicles, the operational reliability and robust performance of traditional cars continue to attract buyers.

The longevity of gas-powered vehicles reflects broader economic realities, including supply chain issues and a decline in new car sales, which dropped by 8% last year. As vehicles age and the desire for new models wanes, it is evident that many consumers are prioritizing practicality and familiar technology over the latest electric offerings.

In any discussion of energy and transportation, it is essential to consider the practical implications for American families. Gas-powered vehicles offer a sense of autonomy that many prefer, especially in an era of fluctuating energy costs and a still-evolving electric vehicle market.

The durability of traditional vehicles reinforces a broader narrative: Americans value choices rooted in practicality, reliability, and freedom, often rejecting trends pushed by policymakers and environmental activists without considering their real-world impacts.

As the automotive landscape shifts and evolves, the conviction of American drivers remains unyielding; they continue to favor what they know works over what is merely trending.

With a fleet of more than 284 million vehicles, this represents an increase of more than three times on the previous year. S&P Global sees this as confirmation of its projections: the average lifespan of vehicles is increasing, due in particular to a slowdown in new car sales.
This is the sixth consecutive year that the average age of vehicles has risen, reaching its highest level since the 2008-2009 crisis. At that time, falling demand had already led to an aging fleet.
According to this study, in 2022, supply difficulties, coupled with a fall in demand against a backdrop of slowing inflation and falling interest rates, have accentuated this phenomenon. Sales of new vehicles then fell by 8% on the previous year, reaching their lowest level in more than ten years, with 13.9 million units sold compared with 14.6 million in 2021.

More frequent changes for a more affluent clientele

Several factors explain this increased retention of combustion-powered cars. One of these is the perceived reliability of these models for long journeys. Many households keep at least one internal combustion car, even if it is driven less frequently, to ensure that they have unrestricted autonomy, particularly over long distances.

Price inflation, for both internal combustion and electric models, also plays a role. On the other hand, electric vehicles are generally replaced more quickly: their replacement cycle is estimated at 3.6 years. This frequent renewal is explained in particular by their higher purchase cost, which attracts customers with greater purchasing power who are prepared to change models regularly. Finally, it’s worth pointing out that the electric vehicle market is in the throes of change.
Every year, new, more efficient and innovative models arrive on the market, encouraging motorists to take the plunge. Brands such as Tesla and BYD are contributing to this craze. Once converted to electric power, the vast majority of drivers remain loyal to this type of engine.

In a political climate where energy policies are continually debated, this study provides a timely reminder of consumers’ unwavering preferences. It underscores the importance of considering the market's response as the nation navigates its energy future.

 

[Chuffer]

Keeping vehicles longer reduces the carbon footprint of manufacture and disposal of each vehicle too . That should help appease the `Greenies ` !!

 

[teamzr1]

Now other nameplates are backtracking on their mandate about EVs

Ford Motor Co. is delaying the launch of its next-generation electric commercial van and electric full-size pickup truck to 2028, the Dearborn automaker confirmed Thursday.

They are the latest postponements in a wave of EV product cancellations and delays as the automotive industry realizes demand for expensive EVs with high-cost, large batteries needed to address range anxiety and the charging network to support them just isn't there in the eyes of many U.S. consumers.
That trend likely is set to accelerate with the Trump administration's work to dismantle regulations around greenhouse gas emissions and incentives for EV transactions in what he has characterized as an effective "EV mandate."

Ford nearly a year ago had said it would launch the commercial van in 2026 at its Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake outside Cleveland. At the time, it also had delayed the start of production by 18 months of the full-size pickup truck to the second half of 2027 at the new BlueOval City assembly plant in Stanton, Tennessee, outside Memphis. Pickup prototype production still is set to launch in 2027, Ford spokesperson Jessica Enoch said.
The company communicated about the timing adjustments to suppliers and employees in June, spokesperson Emma Bergg said in a statement.

Ford CEO Jim Farley has said the company won't launch an EV until it can be profitable within a year. The Model e EV division of the company has lost $2.178 billion so far this year. The annual guidance it suspended in May, because of tariffs, for the unit had forecasted a loss of between $5 billion and $5.5 billion.

"Seems they are not optimistic about notable acceleration in EV demand even a couple of years from now," David Whiston, analyst at investment services firm Morningstar Inc., said in an email. "I was hoping they’d tease the pickup truck, but this news makes that less likely they’d show something."

The truck program was known internally as "Project T3" for "trust the truck," a rallying cry for the development team. Farley said it would "revolutionize America's truck" to be simplified and more cost-efficient. BlueOval City was expected to have capacity for 500,000 pickups annually.
Ford has sold under 16,000 F-150 Lightning trucks so far this year. It's sold less than 5,000 E-Transit vans.

A year ago, Ford canceled plans to produce an all-electric, three-row SUV at Oakville Assembly Complex outside Toronto, Ontario, saying it didn't expect the vehicle to be profitable because of the cost associated with the size of its battery, the most expensive part of an EV. Instead, it plans to launch Super Duty trucks there next year.

Farley on an earnings call last week emphasized a multi-energy strategy offering gas-powered, plug-in hybrid, extend-range electric and all-electric vehicles.
"We think that's a much better move than a $60,000 to $70,000 all-electric crossover," he said. "We think that that's really what customers are going to want long-term. And we're investing a lot in more durable ICE powertrains.

It's not just Ford that has changed EV launches. General Motors Co. won't launch additional production of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra electric trucks at Orion Assembly, and is instead building internal combustion engine full-size SUVs and pickups there.
Chrysler parent Stellantis NV also has postponed the launch of its Ram 1500 REV truck. Honda Motor Co. Ltd. also has scaled back EV investment plans from slower-than-expect U.S. demand growth.

 

[teamzr1]

General Motors Co. is slowing production of two electric SUVs at Detroit's Factory Zero plant amid lower-than-expected U.S. interest in battery-powered vehicles.

The automaker confirmed Thursday that it will shut down one shift each for the GMC Hummer EV and Cadillac Escalade IQ from Sept. 2 to Oct. 26; the move was first reported by the Detroit Free Press. Production of the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV pickups at the Factory Zero Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Center will be unchanged.

"Factory ZERO is making temporary adjustments to production to align to market dynamics," spokesperson Kevin Kelly said in a statement. "General Motors updates schedules as part of our standard process of aligning production to manage vehicle inventory. Impacted employees will be placed on a temporary layoff and may be eligible for subpay and benefits in accordance with the GM-UAW national contract."

GM CEO Mary Barra has been dogged in her commitment to electrifying the Detroit automaker's fleet.
But EV adoption in the United States lags behind industry expectations, and the upcoming loss of $7.500 Federal tax incentives for buyers and the rollback of emissions regulations under President Donald Trump likely will further dampen sales.

GM in April temporarily cut about 1200 jobs at the all-electric Factory Zero because of ebbing interest in the electric trucks and SUVs made there.

Ford Motor Co. made its Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn that assembles the F-150 Lightning truck a one-shift operation last year, and it nixed plans to build an all-electric three-row SUV in its Oakville Assembly Complex in Ontario.

 

[teamzr1]

Oregon could become the second U.S. state to require electric vehicle owners to enroll in a pay-per-mile program as lawmakers began a special session Friday to fill a $300 million transportation budget hole that threatens basic services like snowplowing and road repairs.
However, the special session got off to a rocky start: The state Senate met as scheduled at 9 a.m., but the state House failed to reach the two-thirds quorum required to conduct business, leaving the session in limbo as of late Friday afternoon.

Legislators failed earlier this year to approve a transportation funding package.
Hundreds of state workers' jobs are at risk, and the proposal for a road usage charge for EV drivers was left on the table.
Hawaii in 2023 was the first state to create a mandatory road usage charge program to make up for projected decreases in fuel tax revenue due to the growing number of electric, hybrid and fuel-efficient cars.
Many other states have studied the concept, and Oregon, Utah and Virginia have voluntary programs.

The concept has promise as a long-term funding solution, experts say. Others worry about privacy concerns and discouraging people from buying EVs, which can help reduce transportation emissions.
“This is a pretty major change,” said Liz Farmer, an analyst for The Pew Charitable Trusts’ state fiscal policy team, noting “the challenge in enacting something that’s dramatically different for most drivers.”

Oregon's transportation woes

Oregon's transportation department says the budget shortfall stems from inflation, projected declines in gas tax revenue and other spending limits.
Over the summer, it sent layoff notices to nearly 500 workers and announced plans to close a dozen road maintenance stations.
Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek paused those moves and called the special session to find a solution.
Republican lawmakers say the department mismanaging its money is a main issue.

Kotek's proposal includes an EV road usage charge that is equivalent to 5% of the state's gas tax.
It also includes raising the gas tax by 6 cents to 46 cents per gallon, among other fee increases.

The usage charge would phase in starting in 2027 for certain EVs and expand to include hybrids in 2028.
Should the gas tax increase be approved, EV drivers either would pay about 2.3 cents per mile, or choose an annual flat fee of $340.
Drivers in the program wouldn't have to pay supplemental registration fees.

Drivers would have several options for reporting mileage to private contractors, including a spying smartphone app or the vehicle's telematics technology, said Scott Boardman, policy adviser for the transportation department who works on the state's decade-old voluntary road usage charge program.
Republican lawmakers, who have opposed the tax and fee increases, unveiled a different proposal Friday that largely focuses on lifting restrictions on how the transportation department can spend money on maintenance operations. It does not include a road usage charge.
As of May, there were over 84,000 EVs registered in Oregon, about 2% of the state's total vehicles, he said.

Hawaii launches program

Under Hawaii's program, which began phasing in last month, EV drivers can pay $8 per 1,000 miles driven, capped at $50, or an annual fee of $50.
In 2028, all EV drivers will be required to enroll in the pay-per-mile program, with odometers read at annual inspections.
By 2033, the program is expected to expand to all light-duty vehicles.

Questions about privacy and fairness

In past surveys commissioned by Oregon's transportation department, respondents cited privacy, Spying GPS devices and data security as concerns about road usage charges.

Oregon's voluntary program has sought to respond to such concerns by deleting mileage data 30 days after a payment is received, Boardman said. While plug-in GPS devices are an option in the program, transportation officials anticipate moving away from them because they're more expensive and can be removed, he added.

Still, not everyone has embraced a road usage charge. Arizona voters will decide next year whether to ban state and local governments from implementing a tax or fee based on miles traveled, after the measure was referred to the ballot by the Republican-majority Legislature.
Many people don't realize that "both your vehicle and your cellphone capture immense amounts of data about your personal driving habits already,” said Brett Morgan, Oregon transportation policy director for the nonprofit Climate Solutions.

Morgan added that road usage charges exceeding what drivers of internal combustion engines would pay in gas taxes could dissuade people from buying electric and hybrid cars. Already, federal tax incentives for EVs are set to expire under the tax and spending cut bill recently passed by the GOP-controlled Congress.

“We are definitely supportive of a road usage charge that has EVs paying their fair share, but they should not be paying extra or a penalty,” Morgan said.

 

[James Vette]

Electric car? Just chop my balls off at this point.

 

[phild]

I hope that UK politicians sit up and take note as we don`t have the infrastucture to support mass EV charging either .

I hope so too, but I doubt while we have Ed Miliband in place. Seems he's on a mission with his, so called, net zero policies and not a good one. Again, it seems its ideology over reality.

 

[Roscobbc]

The stupidity of it all. We live in an area that was built-up significantly in the 1930's and post WW2 with predomitably semi-detached house and bungalow with a fair number of larger detached properties too.......so no really issue for most electric owners re. home charging. There's a small parade of local shops, typically a hairdresser, chip shop, Chinese take away, off license and newsagent. There is a small 'pay' chargeable car park for perhaps 10 cars. Space for perhaps 4 vehicles has now been given-over for the infrastructure and bay for electric car charging.........kinda crazy choice considering that perhaps 90% of the housing stock within a couple of miles is as described above. Chargers arn't installed yet......wonder if they'll be hi-speed chargers (like Tesla's)?

 

[teamzr1]

EVs are bad news all around

South Korea on Friday expressed “concern and regret” over a major U.S. immigration raid at a sprawling Georgia USA site where South Korean auto company Hyundai manufactures electric vehicles, which officials said led to the detainment of an unspecified number of illegal South Korean nationals.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lee Jaewoong, read a statement following South Korean media reports that the raid by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement resulted in the detainment of around 450 people, including 30 South Korean nationals. Lee did not specify exactly how many South Koreans were detained but called the number “large.”

Thursday's raid targeted one of Georgia’s largest and most high-profile manufacturing sites, touted by the governor and other officials as the largest economic development project in the state’s history. Hyundai Motor Group, South Korea's biggest automaker, began manufacturing EVs a year ago at the $7.6 billion plant, which employs about 1,200 people, and has partnered with LG Energy Solution to build an adjacent battery plant, slated to open next year.

ICE spokesman Lindsay Williams confirmed that federal authorities were conducting an enforcement operation at the 3,000-acre (1,214-hectare) site west of Savannah, Georgia. He said agents were focused on the construction site for the battery plant.
“The business activities of our investors and the rights of our nationals must not be unjustly infringed in the process of U.S. law enforcement,” Lee said.

Lee said the ministry is taking active measures to address the case, dispatching diplomats from its embassy in Washington and consulate in Atlanta to the site, and planning to form an on-site response team centered on the local mission.
The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that agents executed a search warrant “as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into allegations of unlawful employment practices and other serious federal crimes.”

President Donald Trump's administration has undertaken sweeping ICE operations as part of a mass deportation agenda. Immigration officers have raided farms, construction sites, restaurants and auto repair shops.

The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that agents executed a search warrant “as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into allegations of unlawful employment practices and other serious federal crimes.” It did not say how many were detained or arrested.

Georgia State Patrol troopers blocked roads to the Hyundai site. The Georgia Department of Public Safety confirmed they were dispatched to assist federal authorities.

Video posted to social media Thursday showed workers in yellow safety vests lined up as a man wearing a face mask and a tactical vest with the letters HSI, which stands for Homeland Security Investigations, tells them: “We’re Homeland Security. We have a search warrant for the whole site.”

“We need construction to cease immediately,” the man says. “We need all work to end on the site right now.”

 

[teamzr1]

General Motors Co. is even further pulling back production of electric vehicles and batteries amid lower-than-expected demand and changing federal rules and tax perks.

Production of the Chevrolet Bolt will begin late this year in Kansas with only one shift, spokesperson Kevin Kelly said.
The Detroit automaker also will stop production at its Spring Hill, Tennessee, plant for all of December, as well as the week of Oct. 10 and the week of Thanksgiving. GM makes the electric Cadillac Lyriq and Vistiq, along with the gas-powered Cadillac XT5, at Spring Hill.
The plant will reopen next year with one shift until May 2026, when the second shift is expected to be added back, Kelly said.

"General Motors is making strategic production adjustments in alignment with expected slower EV industry growth and customer demand by leveraging our flexible ICE and EV manufacturing footprint," according to a company statement. "GM's U.S. manufacturing footprint remains our strength, and we are in the process of investing nearly $5 billion over the next two years to further increase domestic vehicle production, enabling the ability to assemble more than two million vehicles per year in the U.S.”

The shift cuts are the latest example of GM's pullback on EV production under President Donald Trump, who in July signed legislation to end $7,500 EV tax perks at the end of this month and whose administration is working to end federal vehicle emissions regulations that incentivized EV manufacturing.

Access to limited charging stations, stress over how far a vehicle can drive before its battery needs to be recharged, and hefty price tags are other roadblocks to broader EV adoption in the United States.
GM's decision to initially make fewer Bolts expected to be the company's most affordable EV comes just weeks after crosstown rival Ford Motor Co. announced a $2 billion investment in its Louisville Assembly Plant to make a $30,000 midsize electric truck.

But other automakers likely will slow EV production in anticipation of a drop-off in sales after the consumer tax credits expire at the end of September, said Sam Abuelsamid, vice president of market research at auto communications firm Telemetry.
"This is something we’ll probably be seeing across the board," Abuelsamid said.

 

[teamzr1]

Update :

ICE staged a massive raid on the construction site for a Hyundai EV battery plant in Bryan County, Georgia on Thursday, detaining a reported 450 illegal aliens. About 1,400 workers are reported employed at the Hyundai site..

The construction site has been the subject of a whistleblower complaint for unsafe working conditions and employing illegals. Several worker deaths have occurred at the Hyundai site, according to local reporting.

The Atlanta ATF participated in the ICE raid, “Today, @ATFAtlanta joined HSI, FBI, DEA, ICE, GSP and other agencies in a major immigration enforcement operation at the Hyundai mega site battery plant in Bryan County, GA, leading to the apprehension of ~450 unlawful aliens, emphasizing our commitment to community safety.”

Excerpt from the Statesboro Herald:

According to multiple reports, ICE and Homeland Security agents came to the HL-GA Battery Company construction site at the megasite in Ellabell, which sits next to Hyundai’s electric-vehicle producing Metaplant. LG Energy Solutions is the parent of HL-GA Battery and is partnering with Hyundai to build the battery plant at the site. The officials announced they had a warrant and to stop construction immediately.

Mary Beth Kennedy, a senior public relations Specialist for HL-GA Battery Company, issued the following statement at 3 p.m.: “HL-GA Battery Company is cooperating fully with the appropriate authorities regarding activity at our construction site. To assist their work, we have paused construction. We do not have further details at this time.”

A spokesman for Hyundai said the company is “cooperating with law enforcement and are committed to abiding by all labor and immigration regulations.”
Sources inside the Hyundai plant have told WTOC that ICE came in with multiple Humvees and that cars were being searched.
WTOC has also been told that there was panic at the site, with people running away, hopping fences, and trying to escape via rooftops.

Our WTOC Investigates team has been following this since last December, previously covering the Hyundai megasite’s alleged use of undocumented immigrants (who some workers say have been exploited due to their illegal status), safety issues during the plant’s construction, the lack of local labor companies involved, and a federal lawsuit filed against the Hyundai plant contractor.

Kevin Souza, who worked construction at the plant, blew the whistle on the safety of the Hyundai megasite, saying undocumented workers were working in unsafe conditions.
Since we first spoke with Kevin, multiple people have died at the construction site.

Souza met with WTOC at the plant just moments ago, saying he’s happy something is finally being done.
“It’s not just about the workers that are here, it’s also about the way the workers are treated and the companies that are in there,” Souza says. “No one in America should be treated like that, or have to work in these kinds of conditions.”

 

[teamzr1]

More than 450 illegal immigrants were arrested on Thursday morning, following an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid on a construction site for a Hyundai electric car battery factory in Georgia. South Korea, the home to Hyundai's headquarters, expressed "concern and regret," over the raid, as hundreds of those arrested were South Korean nationals.

South Korea expressed significant concern over the raid, as more than 300 of those apprehended were Korean nationals.
They sent a counselor and embassy officials to the construction site, which spans 3,000 acres.

Lee Jae-woong, a spokesperson for South Korea’s foreign ministry, told the Financial Times on Friday,
"Our companies’ economic activities and our people’s rights should not be infringed unfairly in the U.S. legal enforcement process."

The raid comes as South Korea agreed to invest $350 billion in the United States following a trade deal struck in July.

Hyundai released a statement, saying that they "are closely cooperating with the South Korean government and relevant authorities to ensure the safety of our employees and staff at contractors, and to secure their swift release from detention."

 

[teamzr1]

Canada is delaying a plan to force automakers to hit minimum sales levels for electric vehicles by next year, a concession to manufacturers in a sector that has been upended by tariffs.

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government will make the announcement Friday as one of a series of measures to help companies in the industries most affected by US President Donald Trump’s trade war, according to people familiar with the matter, speaking on condition they not be identified.

Carney’s predecessor, Justin Trudeau, had passed rules that required automakers to ensure that at least 25% of sales were zero-emission vehicles by the model year 2026. But the government won’t implement that target now: instead, it will launch a review of the so-called “electric vehicle availability standard” to make sure it doesn’t create burdens on automakers, the people said.

It’s another illustration of how Carney, who took over in March, is unwinding some policies of the Trudeau era, partly because of the pressures of the trade war. The prime minister has withdrawn many retaliatory tariffs on US products, scrapped a carbon tax on consumers’ use of fossil fuels and ditched a new tax on digital services after Trump complained about it.

The auto industry has been lobbying for months to change the EV mandate, arguing that the targets were unrealistic and would add costs and put jobs at risk.

In June, about 8% of new vehicles sold in Canada were zero-emission. The percentage has declined this year because the federal government cut off a consumer incentive that had offered as much as C$5,000 ($3,622) to buyers of clean-energy vehicles, saying the program had run out of money.
The Trudeau electric vehicle standard raised the bar over time so that by 2035, all new cars and light trucks sold in Canada would have to be emissions-free.

“These targets were made up by the government, not based on any sound assessment of real market dynamics,” Brian Kingston, chief executive officer of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association, said in an interview in August. The CVMA represents General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler parent Stellantis NV, all of which have manufacturing operations in the province of Ontario.

Under the electric vehicle mandate, manufacturers that failed to meet the sales targets would likely have been forced to restrict sales of internal combustion engine vehicles or buy credits from companies like Tesla Inc., Kingston said.
Automakers around the world are facing higher costs from US tariffs, and EV manufacturers are also facing pressures from US moves to gut fuel-efficiency rules and remove consumer tax credits for buying EVs.

The Canadian industry is highly integrated with the American auto sector: The country exports most of its vehicle production to the US, and imports more American cars and trucks than anywhere else. For that reason, automotive regulations in Canada have long tended to be similar to those in the US.

But the industry is now under threat from the Trump administration’s tariffs on foreign-made vehicles.
GM and Stellantis have both curtailed production and reduced shifts at assembly plants in the province of Ontario since the trade war began.
When Trump imposed those tariffs in April, Canada retaliated by putting its own levies on US-made vehicles - essentially matching the White House move.

 

[teamzr1]

A popular perk for California snob drivers of electric and low-emission cars is coming to an end.

Beginning Oct. 1, motorists with a Clean Air Vehicle decal will no longer be able to drive solo in carpool lanes because the program was not extended by the federal government, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

The carpool benefit was promoted as a cost-effective incentive to encourage Californians to buy clean and zero-emission vehicles. More than a million motorists have applied for the decal since it became available more than two decades ago. There are roughly a half million vehicles in California with active decals, allowing them to use the carpool lane alone. Last month, the DMV stopped issuing new decals and warned that the program could be ending.

Extending the program would have required approval from Congress and President Donald Trump.

"A Trump traffic jam is on its way to California and other states, all because Republicans in Congress decided to let a wildly successful bipartisan program expire," Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. "That's Trump's America: more traffic, more smog and a government more committed to slashing proven programs than solving real problems."

California is one of 13 states offering the benefit. Vehicles that qualified included fuel-cell electric, natural gas or plug-in electric cars.

Last year, Newsom signed a bill that extended California's decal program until 2027, but the state will no longer be able to continue it without federal authority, the governor's office said. According to the California Energy Commission, 25% of new cars sold in the state are zero-emission vehicles.

Drivers in electric and low-emission cars will be able to use carpool lanes after the program expires only if they meet the multiple occupant requirements. The reduced toll rates available in some areas to drivers with a decal also will end Oct. 1.
California law indicates that drivers will not be cited for driving in the carpool lane with an invalid decal within 60 days of the program ending.

"Californians are committed to lowering their carbon footprint and these decals helped drivers be good stewards of our highways and environment," said Steve Gordon, director of the California DMV, in a statement. "By taking away this program, hundreds of thousands of California's drivers will pay the price. It's a lose-lose and we urge the federal government to retain this program."

The program ends at the same time that a $7,500 federal tax credit for new electric vehicles expires at the end of the month

 

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GM. Moron, CEO Mary Barra said Thursday that electric vehicles are still the Detroit automaker's "North Star," even as the company pulls back production to match limited demand.

“From an EV perspective, that is still our North Star,” Barra said at the industry conference Automotive News Congress in downtown Detroit.

Barra's renewed commitment to electrification comes amid a surge of EV sales as buyers and lessees rush to take advantage of $7,500 federal tax credits, authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act, before they expire at the end of the month.

After that, analysts predict an immediate drop in sales, followed by slower-than-expected growth.

Widespread EV adoption lags in the United States, where battery-powered models make up roughly only 8% of market share. On top of tepid driver interest, the U.S. EV industry has been shaken by sweeping changes to greenhouse gas emissions policy under President Donald Trump, who has moved to scrap federal rules limiting tailpipe emissions.

"Up until a year ago, we were on a journey to be in a regulatory environment where we had to drive EV adoption much faster," Barra said. "With the (Inflation Reduction Act) going away, we're still all going to learn where we're at once that ends and we get through the pull-ahead volume."

Like Barra, most automaker executives still have faith in an all-electric future, said Elaine Buckberg, a senior fellow at Harvard University's Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability who also spoke at the conference.

Buckberg, a former GM chief economist, said companies that take an early lead in nascent industries tend to maintain that advantage for a long time. She said the draw of years of market control down the road will push U.S. automakers to continue to innovate without government pressure.

Buckberg said change will come once there's widespread access to EVs that can drive 400 miles without needing a charge, fast-charging infrastructure and cheaper models. Under those circumstances, "even skeptics lose their reason for not buying," she said.