U.S. House plan would give electric vehicles boost but faces opposition

[October 30, 2021]  By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A $1.75 trillion Democratic spending proposal could give a big boost to electric vehicles especially to Detroit's Big Three automakers and the U.S. Postal Service, but it faces opposition from Republicans, foreign automakers, Canada and Mexico.

The House plan boosts electric vehicle credits to up to $12,500 per vehicle, including $4,500 for union-made vehicles and $500 for U.S.-made batteries. Vehicles would have to be made in the United States starting in 2027 to qualify for any credit.

The EV tax credits would cost $15.6 billion over 10 years and disproportionately benefit Detroit's Big Three automakers - General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler-parent Stellantis NV - which assemble their U.S.-made vehicles in union-represented plants.

United Auto Workers (UAW) President Ray Curry said the provision will "create and preserve tens of thousands of UAW members' jobs" and "would be a win for auto manufacturing workers."

"The framework announced today supports good paying union jobs and stands to benefit our country for decades to come," he said.

Foreign automakers, however, have harshly criticized the decision to give union-made vehicles a big leg up. A dozen foreign automakers on Friday urged California's two U.S. senators to oppose it, saying it was unfair to the state's workers.

The Mexican government criticized the U.S. proposal, according to a letter released on Friday in which Economy Minister Tatiana Clouthier expressed her "strong concern" over the provisions, adding that it is "contrary to the regional value content rules agreed upon" in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade pact.

Last week, Canada said the tax credit proposals could harm the North American auto industry and run afoul of trade agreements.

OPPOSITION BREWING

On Wednesday, the governors of 11 states, including Texas, Florida and Arizona, said they opposed the tax credit arguing it would create a "discriminatory environment in our states by punishing autoworkers and car companies because the workers in their plants chose not to unionize."

Tesla and foreign automakers do not have unions representing assembly workers in the United States and many have fought UAW efforts to organize U.S. plants.

Honda said in a letter Friday "this tax credit plan would pit Americans working for the three 'legacy' companies against the American workers of other automakers."

A Cadillac Lyriq electric vehicle (EV) under General Motors is seen during its world premiere on a media day for the Auto Shanghai show in Shanghai, China April 19, 2021. REUTERS/Aly Song

The bill would award $6 billion for the U.S. Postal Service to purchase electric delivery vehicles and infrastructure. USPS said Friday it estimates under the bill "all delivery fleet acquisitions could feasibly be electric by 2028, and a corresponding 70% of our entire delivery fleet by" 2030.

In February, USPS awarded a 10-year contract to Oshkosh Defense, a subsidiary of Oshkosh, to build a mix of internal combustion and EV delivery vehicles that could be worth$6 billion.

The EV proposal eliminates phasing out tax credits after automakers hit 200,000 electric vehicles sold, which would make GM eligible, along with Tesla.

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm defended the decision to exclude Tesla from the higher credit, telling CNBC: "We want to make sure that we do everything possible to encourage that business and labor really focus on elevating the standards for everyday Americans."

Earlier this month, over 100 House lawmakers signed a letter urging Speaker Nancy Pelosi to back the tax credit.

The bill would create a new electric bike and three-wheel vehicle tax credit, a 30% credit for commercial electric vehicles and $4,000 used EV tax credit.

It would authorize $3.5 billion for "domestic manufacturing conversion" grants for electric and other green vehicles and provide $3 billion to boost a U.S. loan program to retool existing auto plants to build more fuel efficient models and expand it to cover zero-emission trains, airplanes, boats and Hyperloop technology.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; additional reporting by Sharay Angulo; Editing by Aurora Ellis)

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