{"id":519160,"date":"2026-01-16T00:53:23","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T00:53:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/519160\/"},"modified":"2026-01-16T00:53:23","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T00:53:23","slug":"evs-were-briefly-the-leading-edge-at-detroit-auto-show-not-anymore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/519160\/","title":{"rendered":"EVs were briefly the leading edge at Detroit auto show. Not anymore"},"content":{"rendered":"

DETROIT (AP) \u2014 At the North American International Auto Show, tires squeal as gearheads put shiny new vehicles through their paces on a pair of indoor tracks that sprawl across the event space. One of those tracks used to be set aside exclusively for electric vehicles as U.S. automakers sought to quickly build out the cars of the future.<\/p>\n

But no longer. This year, both strips are open to hybrids and gas-powered vehicles as Detroit continues a pivot away from EVs since President Donald Trump returned to the White House with a pro-fossil fuels agenda<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe show will always reflect what\u2019s happening in the industry at the consumer level,\u201d said Todd Szott, chairman of this year\u2019s event and an auto dealer. \u201cObviously things have changed in the EV landscape.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some industry players say they\u2019re emphasizing \u201cconsumer choice\u201d in the cars they\u2019re showing at Detroit\u2019s premier auto event. But some experts expressed concern about the EV pullback\u2019s long-term effect on American automakers as the rest of the globe \u2014 especially China \u2014 electrifies.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we worry about is how competitive will we be on the global stage as the market continues to advance around us,\u201d Michael Robinet, vice president of forecast strategy at auto market intelligence firm S&P Global Mobility, said during a panel Wednesday on industry trends.<\/p>\n

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\"Guests<\/p>\n

Guests and members of the media walk the floor at the Detroit Auto Show, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo\/Jose Juarez)<\/p>\n

Guests and members of the media walk the floor at the Detroit Auto Show, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo\/Jose Juarez)<\/p>\n

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Electrification in the US<\/p>\n

Including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, U.S. sales of electrified cars grew just 1% last year, according to data released by Benchmark Mineral Intelligence this week. Compare that to China, which saw 17% growth in plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles last year, and Europe, which saw a 33% increase. (U.S. pure-EV market share was just under 8% in 2025, with 1.23 million EVs sold \u2014 a slight decline from 2024.)<\/p>\n

None of that seemed to alarm President Donald Trump earlier this week when he toured the Ford River Rouge Complex, which churns out pickup trucks and more in suburban Dearborn. Trump used his time in Detroit to boast of policy changes on EVs and tariffs that he says have boosted U.S. automakers.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmong my first acts in office was to end the radical left war on oil and gas and stop the crusade to kill American energy and, frankly, to open up cars so that you don\u2019t have to have an electric car,\u201d Trump said in remarks to an economic club before the plant tour.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"President<\/p>\n

President Donald Trump listens during a tour of the Ford River Rogue complex, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Dearborn, Mich. (AP Photo\/Evan Vucci)<\/p>\n

President Donald Trump listens during a tour of the Ford River Rogue complex, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Dearborn, Mich. (AP Photo\/Evan Vucci)<\/p>\n

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Trump revoked a Biden-era target for half of new vehicle sales in the U.S. to be electric, and has tried to block money obligated to EV charging<\/a> across the nation\u2019s highways. Under Trump, Congress cut tax incentives that saved buyers up to $7,500<\/a> on an EV purchase. The administration has also weakened fuel economy standards<\/a> \u2014 going so far as eliminating penalties for the automakers who do not meet them<\/a> \u2014 and gas mileage rules<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love electric cars. I think they\u2019re great,\u201d Trump added. \u201cBut I\u2019ve been saying it for four years. They wanted everybody to have an electric car in a very short period of time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those changes have cut into the U.S. industry in 2025 and cost automakers billions of dollars in investment.<\/p>\n

Ford Motor Co. announced last month $19.5 billion in charges<\/a> from electrification efforts and ending production of the all-electric version of the F-150 Lightning truck. Detroit rival General Motors also recently announced $6 billion in EV-related charges<\/a>, among other losses, and has also rolled back some of its EV commitments. Even once- market leader Tesla had a tough 2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI still push for it because, I mean, it is the future of the company,\u201d said Shawn Strain, marketing manager at Ford. \u201cWe still are just completely committed to EVs. And it may not be as overt as we once were.\u201d<\/p>\n

Industry concern arises<\/p>\n

But industry experts at and outside of the show say it\u2019s a tough time. The competitive auto landscape has been radically reshaped, they say, and China dominates what most see as the future of the industry.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to look at what we\u2019re up against. In a word \u2014 China,\u201d Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a speech at the show Thursday. \u201cChina wants to dominate every part of auto manufacturing. They\u2019re making major headway.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve captured major market share almost everywhere except the U.S. and Canada,\u201d she added. \u201cWe have to meet these challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A guest is driven in a Ford Bronco on a test drive course by a Ford employee at the Detroit Auto Show, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo\/Jose Juarez)<\/p>\n

A guest is driven in a Ford Bronco on a test drive course by a Ford employee at the Detroit Auto Show, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo\/Jose Juarez)<\/p>\n

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Will Roberts, automotive research lead at Benchmark Minerals that released the 2025 data, warned that U.S. policy has made all the difference.<\/p>\n

American automakers have responded to those changes, he said, but it would be good strategy if they made sure they were \u201ckeeping things ticking along in the background with a really compelling EV offering.\u201d<\/p>\n

Otherwise, the U.S. sector runs the risk of falling behind, Pete Buttigieg, former transportation secretary under former President Joe Biden, agreed.<\/p>\n

In another panel at the show, Buttegieg said Trump can\u2019t stop electric vehicles from becoming the leading automotive technology.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut he can stop America from being the leader in that technology,\u201d Buttigieg said. \u201cIndustry should point a different direction.\u201d<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate reporter. Follow her on X: @alexa_stjohn<\/a>. Reach her at [email\u00a0protected]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

Read more of AP\u2019s climate coverage<\/a>.<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

The Associated Press\u2019 climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP\u2019s standards<\/a> for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n