"From iconic companies like GM and Ford building out
new electric vehicle production to Tesla, our nation's largest electric vehicle
manufacturer, to innovative younger companies," Biden said, adding other
start-ups and saying manufacturing is coming "back to America after
decades."
Biden wants to give union-made, American-built electric
vehicles an additional $4,500 tax incentive, setting up a clash between
automakers Tesla and Toyota without US unionised workers on one side, and
United Auto Workers-affiliated carmakers in Detroit on the other.
Musk also opposed government funding for subsidizing
electric vehicle charging stations.
Last month, Biden met with General Motors Chief Executive
Mary Barra, and the White House has repeatedly praised the Detroit automaker's
electric vehicle efforts, even though it is selling far fewer EVs than Tesla.
After Biden's met with Barra in January and tweeted a video
of the two talking, Musk replied "Starts with a T/Ends with an A/ESL in
the middle" and then compared Biden to a "damp sock puppet.
I meant it when I said the future was going to be made right here in America. Companies like GM and Ford are building more electric vehicles here at home than ever before. pic.twitter.com/5E3ecA93MR
— President Biden (@POTUS) January 27, 2022
In September, Musk said Biden's electric vehicle policy
appeared to be controlled by labor unions. He also criticized Biden in August
when he was not invited to a White House event.
"(They) didn't mention Tesla once and praised GM and
Ford for leading the EV revolution. Does that sound maybe a little
biased?" Musk said during a panel discussion. "Not the friendliest
administration, seems to be controlled by unions."
Asked in August whether the White House did not invite Musk
because workers at Tesla are not unionised, White House press secretary Jen
Psaki said: "I'll let you draw your own conclusion."
When asked about Biden's Tesla namedropping on Tuesday,
Psaki said "We all know that Tesla is a major producer of electric
vehicles," and added the White House sees "huge opportunity” for the
US from the industry overall. © Reuters