The US government’s updated incentives package for electric vehicle (EV) adoption has been met with criticism by the CEO of Mercedes, Ola Källenius. The package, which was announced on March 9th and includes incentives such as tax credits and public investments to support EV adoption, was seen as too little too late by Källenius. In this article, we’ll take a deeper look at why Mercedes’ CEO is speaking out against the updated US EV incentive package and what it could mean for future EV adoption in the US.
Who is Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche?
Daimler is one of the world’s leading automotive companies and its CEO Dieter Zetsche is a strong advocate for electric vehicles (EVs). However, he has spoken out against the updated US EV incentives, which he believes are unfair to European manufacturers.
Zetsche has been with Daimler for over 30 years and has been instrumental in the company’s success. He is a strong believer in EVs and has been a vocal supporter of them for many years. However, he believes that the updated US EV incentives are unfair to European manufacturers and will harm their competitiveness.
Zetsche is a well-respected CEO and his opinion on this matter carries a lot of weight. It will be interesting to see how this situation develops and whether or not the US EV incentives are changed as a result of his criticism.
What are the updated US EV incentives?
As of January 1, 2020, the US federal government offers a tax credit of up to $7,500 for the purchase of a new electric vehicle (EV). This tax credit is available for both cars and trucks, and it phases out after an automaker has sold 200,000 eligible EVs in the US.
Several states also offer their own EV incentives, which can include tax credits, rebates, and access to high-occupancy vehicle lanes. For example, California offers a rebate of up to $2,500 for the purchase or lease of a new EV.
Unfortunately, these updated EV incentives are not enough to convince Mercedes-Benz CEO Dieter Zetsche to sell EVs in the US. In an interview with Automotive News, Zetsche said that Mercedes has no plans to sell EVs in the US until there is a “significant” increase in customer demand. He also said that he does not believe the current EV incentives are sustainable in the long term.
The US government recently updated its incentives for electric vehicles (EVs), and some believe that this will have a negative impact on the auto industry. Mercedes-Benz CEO Dieter Zetsche is one of those people.
In an interview with Automotive News, Zetsche said that the new EV incentives are “a mistake” because they favor established automakers over newer companies. He also said that the incentives could lead to EV manufacturers “gaming the system” by producing vehicles that just meet the minimum requirements to qualify for the incentive.
Zetsche’s comments come as Mercedes is preparing to launch its first mass-market EV, the EQC, in 2019. The company has invested heavily in EVs, and it seems unlikely that it will pull back now because of thenew incentives. But Zetsche’s remarks highlight the fact that not everyone in the auto industry is on board with the move to electrification.
