President Trump has just been inaugurated and reinstated as the 47th president of the United States of America. In his second inaugural address, he vowed that “the golden age of America begins right now”, while quickly asserting control over the executive branch. Following his inauguration at the Capitol on Monday, President Trump signed a couple of mobility-focused executive orders. A few of which are mobility-focused and may shape the future of the automotive industry, so let’s dive in.
The Proposed Executive Changes
One of the signed executive orders of President Trump ended the Biden-era Electric Vehicle (EV) targets. Ex-President Joe Biden had signed an executive order in 2021 which entailed that 50% of all new vehicles sold in the United States would be electric by 2030. This comes as great news to many car enthusiasts who prefer internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to EVs.
The Biden-era EV mandate would have led to a decline in the number of ICE vehicle production, thereby compelling the use of EVs due to availability. The goal of eliminating the ‘EV mandate’ is to promote true consumer choice between EVs and combustion engine vehicles. Additionally, President Trump has called for the discontinuation of a waiver that previously allowed states to ban internal-combustion cars by 2035.

Creating a Balance
The new executive order also revokes unspent government funds for electric-vehicle charging stations. Biden had set a goal of creating 500,000 such charging ports by 2030, just over a 100% increase from the 203,000 publicly available ports across the US at the moment. These charging ports were previously funded by the government which made them mostly free or subsidised. This means that Americans may soon have to pay more to charge their beloved EVs.
More so, the order also tells his administration to consider eliminating what he calls ‘unfair subsidies and other ill-conceived government-imposed market distortions that favor EVs over other technologies and effectively mandate their purchase.’ By doing so, I think President Trump is trying to create a level playing ground for both EVs and combustion engine vehicles alike.

Are These Changes Feasible?
As much as this comes as good news to consumers, automakers may not be as excited about this news. Many of these automakers have already invested billions of dollars into EV research and development, all in a bid to keep up with the Biden-era EV mandate. But nothing is set in stone, as it is not yet clear if the Trump administration has the power to reverse Biden’s emissions standard through executive order alone. His administration will likely need to propose new legislation through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
What Does this Entail for Africa?

The executive orders from Trump would, in my opinion, be of advantage to most African countries. This is because a handful of countries, Nigeria included are yet to have infrastructure to accommodate EVs. It more or less gives us more time, because 2030 is just 5 years away. More so, with reduced combustion engine production, it would mean a reduced pool of cars available for import to countries like Nigeria that are not yet able to fully support electric vehicles. A reduction in supply would mean an increase in demand and ultimately a surge in price. Africans may pay heavy for combustion engine vehicles come 2035, if the EPA refuses Trump’s proposition.
All things considered, President Trump’s executive auto order is one that I hope goes through, because it promotes choice. EVs and ICE vehicles can both exist without the government trying to eliminate the former. With incentives for EVs gone, it then becomes a case of preference, rather than compulsion. What are your thoughts?