The CEO of the maker of Jeep SUVs, Ram pickup trucks and other vehicles says he's not sure there will be enough raw materials to replace the existing fleet of fossil fuel-powered vehicles with all-electric vehicles.
The comments from Stellantis NV's Carlos Tavares came Wednesday during the Freedom of Mobility Forum, a platform the automaker created alongside its decision to leave the European Automobile Manufacturers Association and to change its approach to public affairs and lobbying. The hope is that the debate from diverse views around the world can help to inform and influence public opinion to which lawmakers ultimately are subject. And based on the engagement of the inaugural event, stakeholders involved will determine the best ways to disseminate the facts, challenges and solutions discussed.
The wide-ranging, two-hour conversation among six panelists was moderated by Celia Edwards, a partner at consulting firm Wavestone. It addressed the auto industry, public transportation, bikes and municipal planning and sought to answer the question: In a decarbonized world, will freedom of mobility be affordable to a happy few only? It's a frequent concern expressed by Tavares, who has emphasized the need for the auto industry to absorb the 40% higher costs to build an electric vehicle than an internal combustion engine vehicle instead of passing those expenses onto car buyers.
