(Washington) Tesla CEO Elon Musk and two of US President Joe Biden’s top advisers met in Washington on Friday to discuss the electric vehicle industry and the broader goal of electrification.
MM. Musk and Biden have not met, said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
Relations between the two men are not the most harmonious, with Mr. Biden, a big supporter of the unions, disappointed by Elon Musk’s refusal to allow them in his factories.
White House advisers Mitch Landrieu and John Podesta met with the head of Tesla – which also owns Twitter and SpaceX – at Tesla’s office in downtown Washington to discuss shared goals regarding electrification.
Their discussion focused on how the infrastructure and climate legislation Joe Biden signed into law last year can help spur production of electric vehicles and charging stations, in addition to encouraging more people to switch. from gas-powered vehicles to electric vehicles and to choose more electrical appliances, such as heat pumps and stoves. Rebates and tax credits are available to encourage this change.
Landrieu oversees federal infrastructure spending, which includes financial assistance for the electric vehicle industry. Mr. Podesta is the president’s benchmark for spending on Mr. Biden’s climate and clean energy initiatives.
Asked whether the meeting marked a new phase in the White House’s relationship with Mr. Musk, Ms.me Jean-Pierre said that “says a lot” about how Mr Biden sees the importance of the two pieces of legislation.
“I think it’s important that his team, high-level members of his team, had a meeting with Elon Musk,” she said.