The spokesperson also pointed out that Mercedes is committed to supporting legislation designed to protect U.S. national security, but it also wants to ensure that any such legislation doesn’t impact its operations here.
Battery Management Rules Vote Shows EV Confusion in Washington
The discussion around the bill’s amendments also showed there is still a lot of confusion in Washington about how electrified vehicles are built and how battery components are sourced.
During the portion of the bill’s discussion on rules banning Chinese Battery Management Systems (BMS), introduced by Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth and based on existing Biden-era rules, Sen. Cruz stated that GM supported a provision related to it and batteries in the bill. He also stated that it would have required automakers to buy batteries from General Motors and would have added up to $5,000 to the cost of electrified vehicles without addressing the national security risks the bill was trying to solve.
However, Sen. Moreno stated that he didn’t understand why GM was brought up by Sen. Cruz, in addition to mentioning that Rivian is getting its batteries assembled in China. Confusingly, Moreno also stated that Tesla made more of its vehicles in the U.S., despite not admitting that the Model Y base and Model Y L are assembled in China using Chinese-manufactured battery packs for import into Canada, for example. The 2027 Model Y L is scheduled to begin manufacturing at Giga Texas later this year.
His statement also made it seem like, although we’re sure he wasn’t trying to imply it, Rivian is not an American company in his opposition to the amendment, rather than simply stating that Rivian was sourcing battery cells and using its own American-made BMS. Ultimately, Sen. Duckworth’s amendment failed to pass, but it does show that there is still a lot of confusion in Washington about how electrified vehicles and battery components work, along with the assembly processes and sourcing behind those vehicles.
GM and Rivian Respond
We asked GM for comment on Sen. Cruz’s statements, and a spokesperson provided the following: “General Motors supports policies that protect and strengthen American manufacturing and the global competitiveness of U.S. automakers, and we remain committed to long-term investments in our domestic workforce, facilities, and technology. As we have said many times, we can compete with anyone in the world when we are given a level playing field.”
We also reached out to Rivian for a statement on Sen. Moreno’s comments, and its spokesperson said the following: “Rivian is proud to be an American automaker, employing thousands of hardworking people at our manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois, and across the country. Our vehicles are designed, engineered, and assembled in the United States and prioritize performance, capability and safety while also protecting the privacy of those who drive them. While all automakers rely on complex supply chains that include both U.S. and international components, we are dedicated to promoting an American manufacturing base that is robust, competitive, and an example to the rest of the world.”
