(Detroit) The American president and car enthusiast Joe Biden did not hide his pleasure Wednesday at the opening of the Detroit show, which comes back to life after two editions canceled because of the COVID-19, with determined manufacturers to highlight their transition to less polluting vehicles.
Posted at 4:18 p.m.
Before a speech focused on the initiatives that have accelerated this transition, Joe Biden took the opportunity to get behind the wheel of an electric Cadillac Lyriq and a Chevrolet Corvette Z06.
“It’s a beautiful car,” he said of the Cadillac, “but I love the Corvette,” which he revved up.
“He said he was taking her home,” General Motors boss Mary Barra said.
Strolling the aisles of the show, Joe Biden met with officials from General Motors, Ford or Stellantis but also from the main UAW automobile union. A few weeks before the legislative elections, all the major Democratic elected officials from Michigan were also there.
The show did not take place for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The event usually took place in January but was moved to September, a period with better weather.
The 2022 edition is however less important than the previous ones, many foreign manufacturers, or more recent players like Tesla, being absent.
Combustion engines still present
Some big brands still present their latest novelties there.
The Chevrolet brand is thus highlighting the electric versions of the Silverado and that of the Equinox SUV, unveiled last week with a base price of $30,000, with the aim of offering a more affordable offer than that of the electric cars currently on the market. market.
Combustion engines are not completely relegated to oblivion: Chevrolet presented Wednesday a new version of its Tahoe SUV running on gasoline.
The legendary Jeep brand, from the Stellantis group, presented a special edition for the 30e anniversary of its Grand Cherokee as well as a plug-in hybrid Jeep.
Joe Biden must highlight in his speech the measures taken since his arrival at the White House to facilitate the transition to electricity, such as the 7.5 billion US dollars released for the construction of charging stations, a law on semiconductors, now essential components in cars full of electronics, and subsidies for manufacturers and motorists.
Sector players have however expressed reservations about the new incentives for the purchase of an electric vehicle, subject to specific conditions such as final assembly in North America.
But the president has had rather good relations with the manufacturers since he helped them out of a difficult situation after the financial crisis of 2008, when he was vice-president.
Since his arrival at the White House, he has already visited GM and Ford factories.