On the same day, Barra told the media after appearing at the Washington Economic Club, “Our plan is to sell only electric cars, light electric cars, by that time, but we certainly will respond to consumer demand.”

In October, GM said it would abandon its goal of producing 400,000 electric vehicles midyear from 2022 through 2024 after the company’s plant in Orion Township, Michigan, delayed production of electric pickup trucks by a year. In addition, GM canceled plans to partner with Honda Motor to develop an affordable electric vehicle.

At a time when the U.S. government is pushing aggressive vehicle emissions regulations, Borah said they must be achievable. Bora noted, “I think we’re in a favorable position in terms of the number of electric vehicles we have coming out.”

Previously, the American Automotive Policy Council, which represents GM, Ford and Stellantis, urged regulators to cut the annual increase in truck fuel economy in half, from 4 % to 2 %, saying the proposal “would have a large impact on truck fleets “.

U.S. automakers also warned that fuel economy fines would cost GM, Stellantis and Ford $6.5 billion, $1 billion and $1 billion, respectively. GM paid $128.2 million in fines in 2016 and 2017, the first time GM has paid a fuel economy fine, Reuters reported in June.