Volkswagen CEO Says Biden Win Better Suits Corporate Goals
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.
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]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
More by Matt Posky
Comments
Join the conversation
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.