A new analysis has warned that an electric vehicle (EV) mandate put forward by the Biden-Harris administration could cut as much as 123,000 auto manufacturing jobs in America.
The analysis published on Sept. 9 by the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) looked at the repercussions of the current administration's EV mandate, alongside a more radical proposal from Vice President Kamala Harris. While the current EV mandate already has a serious impact, the Democratic presidential nominee's proposal originally introduced in 2019 could be a bigger threat – especially in Rust Belt states.
"[The] current EV rules could wipe out 123,000 auto manufacturing jobs," a press release from AFPI stated. "Reducing conventional vehicle market share would lead to a 64.3 percent decrease in conventional vehicle sales."
The think tank also warned that the ban on combustion engine vehicles would drive "huge job losses across related manufacturing sectors." It would also translate to losses "in auto repair and other industries that support auto and auto parts manufacturers."
The Biden administration introduced the gas-powered car ban this year under the guise of promoting Net Zero emissions. Under the rule, the majority of new cars sold in the U.S. must be pure EVs or hybrids by 2032 – which according to the Wall Street Journal means that "gas-powered cars can make up no more than 30 percent of auto sales" by the target year.
Meanwhile, Harris' policy platform in her 2019 presidential campaign included a plan to phase out the sale of new gas-powered vehicles entirely by 2035. Four years after that plan was originally posted, she could bring this back.
"If Harris' extreme plan for an outright ban on gas-powered and hybrid vehicles by as soon as 2035 is implemented, job losses could soar to more than 191,000," AFPI added. "EVs require 30 to 40 percent less labor to assemble than gas-powered vehicles, leading to severe job cuts in the auto manufacturing sector."
Midwest states most affected by Kamala's proposal
According to AFPI's analysis, Harris' 2019 proposal would eradicate tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs in several Midwest states the moment it takes effect. Michigan would lose approximately 37,000 jobs, Indiana would lose 24,000 and Ohio would lose 21,000. The ban on gas-powered cars would be a serious blow to the Great Lakes State and the city of Detroit – as the Motor City is the birthplace of the U.S. automotive industry.
"The proposed mandates are not just a policy shift. They are a direct threat to American autoworkers and the economy," said AFPI Center for American Freedom Director James Sherk, also a former Trump administration official.
"Harris' push to ban gas-powered cars threatens to wipe out nearly 200,000 auto manufacturing jobs; [decimate] job markets in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio; and economically [devastate] the hardworking families and communities that depend on these jobs."
Senatorial candidate Mike Rogers slammed the current EV mandate and Harris' 2019 proposal during a Sept. 9 press conference. Rogers, a Republican, is running against U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) for the seat of U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). Stabenow said in January that she won't be running for reelection this year.
"There was a report that just came out today that said 200,000 manufacturing auto jobs would disappear if the Biden-Harris-Slotkin agenda was put into motion. These factory jobs are critical to our economy and our families," Rogers said.
"You start thinking about what that does to our community here. It will ripple through our economy in a way we have never seen in our history because we are knowingly putting our foot on the necks of Michigan auto workers."
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