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Tesla electric car charging station in Littleton, Colorado
Photo: David Zalubowski / AP
According to insiders, the major US automakers are about to announce that they will increase sales of electric cars to up to 50 percent by 2030.
General Motors, Ford and Chrysler parent Stellantis would announce on Thursday that they intend to achieve 40 to 50 percent of their new vehicle sales with electric models by then, several people familiar with the project told Reuters.
An event by US President Joe Biden with the heads of the three companies on the subject of electric vehicles and fuel consumption is also planned for Thursday.
"I'm not joking when I say that electric cars are the future," Biden wrote in advance on Twitter and announced "big news".
The government has urged automakers to voluntarily pledge to increase electric vehicle sales to at least 40 percent of sales by 2030 in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
However, Biden resisted calls to follow California's goal of phasing out new gasoline sales in 2035.
The vehicles with the 40 to 50 percent target by 2030 should be fully electric cars, hybrid cars and hydrogen-powered models, according to the insiders.
The carmakers want to make it clear that the goal is dependent on additional government support for electric vehicles and the charging industry.
Meanwhile, the organizers of the New York auto show announced that the event had been canceled in view of the more contagious Delta variant of the corona virus.
The ten-day show originally planned for April was canceled at the time and the kick-off was later set for August 19.
The fair is now planned for April 2022.
Usually, the fair attracts thousands of journalists from all over the world and over a million visitors with the innovations from the car manufacturers.
dab / Reuters