New York (awp/afp) – The American automobile manufacturer Ford predicts “incredible pressure” on the price of electric vehicles in 2025 in the United States, a sector where demand is less strong than anticipated and which could be affected by measures by President-elect Donald Trump.
According to American media, referring to the billionaire’s entourage, he plans to eliminate the $7,500 tax credit granted to buyers of electric vehicles as part of Joe Biden’s flagship law to fight climate change. .
Donald Trump considers that global warming is not due to human activity and, during his campaign, considered that the Biden administration’s measures would lead to the end of combustion vehicles.
John Lawler, Ford’s chief financial officer, warned on Wednesday that a withdrawal of the tax credit would worsen the excess supply of electric vehicles, which cost more than those running on hydrocarbons.
“One of the things we think is that there is going to be incredible pressure on prices next year in the electric vehicle market,” he noted during a financial conference in New York.
“One thing we know is that consumers are not willing to pay too much premium for electric vehicles,” said Mr. Lawler, adding that Ford’s development of hybrids would offer it greater flexibility. in the face of possible developments.
“We are modeling several scenarios and will adjust accordingly,” he said.
For his part, the financial director of General Motors estimated that it was “too early” to speculate on the policies that Donald Trump could ultimately implement, assuring that the group was determined to pursue its electric strategy as an “objective long term”.
But, Paul Jacobson clarified, GM could “delay” investments depending on the trajectory of the electric market.
The two American giants have already slowed down or reduced projects in this area in recent months in the face of less dynamic demand than anticipated.
But the president-elect seems to have watered down his positions on electric vehicles thanks to his rapprochement during the campaign with Elon Musk, owner of the specialized manufacturer Tesla.
However, the latter recognized that the elimination of the tax credit could harm competitors who are attacking its market shares.
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