Before a speech focused on the initiatives that have accelerated this transition, Joe Biden took the opportunity to get behind the wheel of an electric Cadillac Lyriq and a Chevrolet Corvette Z06.

"It's a beautiful car," he said of the Cadillac, "but I love the Corvette," whose engine he revved.

“He said he was taking her home,” General Motors boss Mary Barra said.

Strolling the aisles of the show, Joe Biden met with officials from General Motors, Ford or Stellantis but also from the main UAW automobile union.

A few weeks before the legislative elections, all the major elected Democrats from Michigan were also there.

The show had been sidelined for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The event usually took place in January but was moved to September, a period with better weather.

The 2022 edition is however less important than the previous ones, many foreign manufacturers, or more recent players like Tesla, being absent.

Combustion engines still present

Some big brands still present their latest novelties there.

The Chevrolet brand is thus highlighting the electric versions of the Silverado pickup and that of the Equinox SUV, unveiled last week with a base price of $30,000, with the aim of offering a more affordable offer than that of the electric cars currently on the market. the market.

Combustion engines are not completely relegated to oblivion: Chevrolet presented Wednesday a new version of its Tahoe SUV running on gasoline.

The mythical Jeep brand, from the Stellantis group, presented a special edition for the 30th anniversary of its Grand Cherokee SUV as well as a rechargeable hybrid Jeep.

Joe Biden must highlight in his speech the measures taken since his arrival at the White House to facilitate the transition to electric, such as the 7.5 billion dollars released for the construction of charging stations, a law on semi -drivers, components that are now essential in cars full of electronics, and subsidies for manufacturers and motorists alike.

Sector players have however expressed reservations about the new incentives for the purchase of an electric vehicle, subject to specific conditions such as final assembly in North America.

But the president has had rather good relations with the manufacturers since he helped them out of a difficult situation after the financial crisis of 2008, when he was vice-president.

Since arriving at the White House, he has already visited GM and Ford factories.

© 2022 AFP