General Motors CEO Mary Barra recently revealed in an interview that she had a conversation with President Joe Biden where she emphasized the need to credit Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, for their significant contributions to the electric vehicle (EV) transition. This conversation took place after President Biden had previously credited GM and Barra for leading the EV efforts in the United States.
During the New York Times Dealbook Summit interview with Andrew Ross Sorkin, Barra expressed that it was important to acknowledge Tesla and Musk for their role in driving the widespread adoption of electric vehicles. She mentioned to Biden that crediting her and GM alone was a mistake, and that Tesla deserved recognition for their pioneering work in the EV space.
Barra’s comments came in response to President Biden’s visit to GM’s “Factory Zero” plant in Detroit back in 2021, where he commended GM and Barra for their leadership in the EV industry. However, many were puzzled by the omission of Tesla and Musk from his remarks, considering that Tesla had been at the forefront of the EV revolution and had influenced other automakers to follow suit.
In a subsequent event, Musk humorously pointed out the irony of Biden’s praise for GM, especially considering that Tesla had far outpaced GM in EV deliveries during the same period. In Q4 of 2021, Tesla delivered 300,000 EVs, while GM only managed to deliver 26.
Overall, Barra’s candid conversation with President Biden highlights the importance of recognizing the contributions of all key players in the EV industry. As Tesla continues to lead the way in electric vehicle innovation, it is crucial to acknowledge their pivotal role in driving the transition towards a sustainable future.