White House Electric Vehicle Event Without Tesla... Due to Musk's Union Opposition?

Event Setting 50% Electric Vehicle Sales Target by 2030 Excludes Tesla
Only CEOs of the Three Major Automakers Attend
No Tesla Vehicles Displayed

U.S. President Joe Biden is experiencing an electric vehicle from the Jeep brand under Chrysler at the White House and giving a thumbs-up.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, was not invited to the event where the U.S. government announced its ambitious electric vehicle policy. It is interpreted that the Biden administration, which prioritizes labor unions, deliberately excluded Musk and Tesla, who are seen as opposing unions.

On the 5th (local time), President Joe Biden signed an executive order at the White House, attended by CEOs of major U.S. automakers and union representatives, setting a goal that more than 50% of new car sales by 2030 will be zero-emission vehicles.

This executive order aims to encourage the automotive industry to ensure that zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) such as battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and fuel cell electric vehicles account for half of new car sales.

The event was attended by Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, Jim Farley, CEO of Ford, and Mark Stewart, Chief Operating Officer of Stellantis North America, who expressed their support for the government’s policy.

Electric vehicles from GM, Ford, and Chrysler were also displayed at the event.

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, expressed his dissatisfaction on Twitter about Tesla not being invited to the White House's electric vehicle event.

However, Elon Musk, CEO of the leading U.S. electric vehicle company, was not invited to this event. Musk mentioned on Twitter that "it is strange that Tesla was not invited." Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y were also absent from the venue.

The Wall Street Journal reported that authorities declined to comment on why Musk was not invited, citing Tesla’s lack of a labor union as the reason.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki also did not directly answer the question during a regular briefing asking, "Was Tesla not invited because it does not have a union?"

Christine Dziczek, Senior Vice President of the Center for Automotive Research, explained, "President Biden has expressed interest in creating good automotive jobs since his first day in office," adding, "Among U.S. automakers, only three have labor unions."

According to Business Insider, Musk has expressed negative views on attempts to organize a union at Tesla. The National Labor Relations Board even demanded that Musk delete tweets that were unfavorable to the union.

Ray Curry, former president of the United Auto Workers (UAW), who reportedly opposed the policy due to concerns about job cuts, attended the event.

In a statement, Curry said, "I support President Biden’s goal of not only producing electric vehicles but also creating good wages and benefits for workers in the U.S. and building the capacity to manufacture electric vehicles domestically," adding, "We will focus not on the deadline or percentage of the goal but on protecting wages and benefits, which are the core of the American middle class."

Meanwhile, major foreign media reported that Hyundai Motor Company and Japan’s Toyota also supported the U.S. government’s policy alongside American automakers.