As the U.S. election devolves into deciding which political party committed the most fraud, Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess said a victory by Democrat Joe Biden would be the ideal outcome for any German automakers seeking to mass-produce electric cars. Hardly surprising, considering the Biden-Harris campaign website says it would regulate the dickens out of fossil fuels, moving aggressively toward alternative energy sources and electrification while pressing other nations to do the same.
“A Democratic program probably would be more aligned with our worldwide strategy, which is really to fight climate change, to become electric,” the CEO told Bloomberg on Thursday.
Though he couldn’t commit himself fully with the election still undecided, Diess made sure to mention that VW had also established a “really a trustful relationship with the Trump administration and government … We did a lot also to contribute [sic] to build America.”
But VW has more global ambitions. Following the monstrous Dieselgate scandal of 2015, where the automaker was caught using illegal software to cheat emissions testing and was subsequently fined into oblivion, Volkswagen pivoted hard toward electrification. It now hopes to become the world’s largest EV manufacturer with the most diverse lineup of electrically driven cars.
Diess noted that the United States had the weakest market share for battery-electric vehicles when compared to China and Europe. Putting a Democrat in the White House would undoubtedly encourage the U.S. to adopt similar policies as global rivals — likely placing new restrictions on gas-driven vehicles while incentivizing electric vehicle purchases. While Trump has made it clear that he wants to deregulate the automotive industry wherever possible, Biden has repeatedly signaled that he intends to add regulations and push the country toward EVs as part of an extremely broad “infrastructure and environmental justice” program.
Volkswagen Group seems to have shrewdly determined that having the government gradually discourage people from buying anything other than electric vehicles will ultimately increase their sales. However, it’s going to have to wait a while to see which old guy wins the election because it’s presently an utter mess. Though that could be said at practically every stage of this particular election.
“At the end, this is a decision America has to take,” Diess said. “We only can watch and we have to adapt.”
[Image: nrqemi/Shutterstock]
We are all Californians now…
Avocado
Avocado
Avocado
Vote early. Vote often
Another good reason to not buy their products.
We don’t make much here, other than anti-consumer laws and woke culture. Sorry about that.
Where’s my free money?
Ask the complainer in chief. I would guess that he gave it to the big corporations and the 1%.
EVs have been incentivized since 2010, with the subsidies already sunsetting (as planned) for Tesla, and soon GM.
Any mfr will promote the subsidy, but an objective lawmaker will struggle to argue that EVs ‘need’ more incentives when Tesla sales have continued to increase even without incentives.
New restrictions on ICEs? Sure, that’ll work.
And before somebody here suggests a higher gas tax, precisely how high do you think it (the price of gas) should be to damp sales of F-150s on a long-term basis? Anything lower than $8-10/gallon won’t do it, but raising gas prices to that level will bring out the armed militia, not to mention destroying the economy.
Forget using a gas tax to change consumer behavior. With gas prices at such all time lows, it seems to me that now is a unique opportunity to use a gas tax to fix America’s infrastructure. Why not mandate a tax that would roughly take a gallon of gasoline to $3.50-$4.00. It could be a quarterly or monthly scale that would adjust the tax as the price of a gallon of gasoline fluctuates. Thus if gas goes up, the tax goes down the the price of a gallon will not exceed $4.00. It would create enormous amounts of funds to fix America’s crumbling infrastructure, which would create jobs, which would create more tax revenue, etc, etc. It is a total win, win for everyone. With gasoline at such low prices now for so long, I really think we are squandering an opportunity for a truly historic jobs and public works plan.
Kinda interesting to say when Biden doesn’t have any plans for anything.
Well, maybe he does. Not like he remembers though. Alzheimer’s is a thing and Camala will be some the supreme dictator. And she hates cars. So good luck VW
Biden has never had a plan to do anything since he has been in politics. Look at his record of accomplishments.
At least he won’t be blowing up Twitter with unsubstantiated bluster and non-truths.
And EB, that’s not how you spell the Vice President-elect’s name. (The illiterati have spoken!)
Our life will be considerably more boring then.
California mandates EV, promotes EV, suppresses ICE. Same state can’t manage it’s electric grid which results in widespread fire, destruction and pollution.
Good intentions….
VW is enthusiastic for political regulation which would promote EV to fit their strategy.
Good intentions….
“ At least he won’t be blowing up Twitter with unsubstantiated bluster and non-truths.
And EB, that’s not how you spell the Vice President-elect’s name. (The illiterati have spoken!)”
True. With his advanced Alzheimer’s he can’t remember how to log into Twitter.
And she’s not the Vice President. She’s the president. Biden won’t make it 6 months with how sick he is.
Yeah, I really don’t know what this country will do without the totally lucid, consistent and reassuring presence of Donald Trump if Biden should win.
COVFEFE FOREVER!!!!!
That comment is so effed up. Trump is way more senile since he believes he can dictate his wet dreams and the sheep will follow. Yes, about 40% of the electorate do. The other 60% still maintain some mental acuity and have not drank his kool aid yet. In the long run, Darwin will take of the 40%.
It is pronounced CAMEL A.
It’s a CEO’s duty to his employer and its stockholders to encourage national policies that benefit the company. That doesn’t make them good policies favored by the people. I think Diess is kidding himself if he believes environmental zealots favor any kind of privately owned transportation.
Q: why can’t Trump go back to the White House?
A: because it’s forbidden.
I know, dumb joke. But political comments in an automotive blog are also dumb.
For the record, I voted for Trump.
You and the rest of his troop of psychopaths will be constantly worrying about someone taking your pickups and AR-15, without which you are not men.
You and the rest of his troop of psychopaths will be constantly worrying about someone taking your pickups and AR-15, without which you are not men.
How does this comment help anything? You’re not persuading anyone, you’re not building a better case or showing that your arguments or positions are better.
People stop. You’re making things worse.
Every sh!t that happens in California then happens in the rest of country and then the rest of the world (which includes the theme park known as “Europe”). So everything started with Tesla, Fremont, California. And then spread out like cancer:)
Oh, BTW – Kamala is from California.
Volkswagen is pulling the same stunt in Germany, claiming that gas prices need to be even higher in order to force people into electric cars. As if gas prices aren’t expensive enough here already.
I am an Audi man, but if this continues then I will NEVER buy another VWAG product again. This entire hysterical discussion about climate change and the growing anti-car attitude in many countries can be entirely blamed on Volkswagen due to their Diesel emissions scandal.
Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess is having a good day today.