DETROIT (AP) – Tires squeal at the North American International Auto Show as gearheads drive their shiny new cars around a pair of indoor tracks that span the event space. One of these trucks was set aside exclusively for electric vehicles, as the U.S. automaker sought to rapidly produce future vehicles.

But no more. Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, the city of Detroit has continued its transition away from electric vehicles, allowing hybrid and gasoline-powered vehicles to pass through both neighborhoods this year. Fossil fuel promotion agenda.

“The show always reflects what’s happening in the industry at the consumer level,” said car dealer Todd Szot, chairman of this year’s event. “Obviously, the EV landscape has changed.”

Some industry officials say the cars on display at Detroit’s major auto event are focused on “consumer choice.” But some experts expressed concern that the withdrawal from EVs would have a long-term impact on U.S. automakers as other parts of the world, particularly China, move toward electrification.

“What we’re concerned about is how competitive we can be on the world stage as the market continues to advance around us,” Michael Robinette, vice president of forecasting strategy at auto market intelligence firm S&P Global Mobility, said during a panel discussion on industry trends Wednesday.

electrification of the usa

U.S. electric vehicle sales, including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, rose just 1% last year, according to data released this week by Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. Compare this to China, where plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles increased by 17% last year, and Europe, which saw a 33% increase. (US pure EV market share in 2025 was just under 8%, with EV sales of 1.23 million units, down slightly from 2024.)

There was no sense of concern when President Donald Trump toured the Ford River Rouge complex outside Dearborn earlier this week, which produces large quantities of pickup trucks and other vehicles. President Trump used his stay in Detroit to boast that policy changes on EVs and tariffs have boosted U.S. automakers.

“Some of the first actions I took in office were to end the radical left’s war on oil and gas, stop the movement that is destroying America’s energy, and frankly, open up the automobile so that we don’t have to have electric cars,” Trump said in a speech at the Economic Club ahead of the factory tour.

President Trump has rescinded a Biden administration-era goal to make half of all new U.S. car sales electric. Tried to block mandatory funding for EV charging Across the nation’s highways. Congress cuts under Trump administration Tax benefits saved buyers up to $7,500 Regarding EV purchase. Government has also become weaker. fuel efficiency standards — go so far as to eliminate Penalties for automakers who violate the rules – and fuel efficiency rules.

President Trump added, “I love electric cars. I think they’re great.” “But I’ve been saying this for four years: They wanted everyone to have an electric car in a very short period of time.”

These changes will hurt U.S. industry in 2025, costing automakers billions of dollars in investment costs.

Ford Motor Company announced this last month. Cost: $19.5 billion From electrification efforts and the end of production of the all-electric version of the F-150 Lightning truck. Detroit rival General Motors also recently announced EV-related costs of $6 billionThese losses resulted in some setbacks in EV initiatives. Even once… Market leader Tesla experienced tough times in 2025..

“I’m still pushing for it because it’s the future of the company,” said Sean Strain, Ford marketing manager. “We’re still just fully committed to EVs, and it may not be as overt as it used to be.”

Industry concerns arise

But industry experts inside and outside the show say these are tough times. They say the automotive competitive landscape has been fundamentally reshaped, with China controlling what most see as the future of the industry.

“We have to look at what we’re up against. In one word: China,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a speech on Thursday’s show. “China wants to control every part of car manufacturing and is making great strides.

“We have major market share in almost every region except the US and Canada,” she added. “We have to meet these challenges.”

Will Roberts, head of automotive research at Benchmark Minerals, who released the 2025 data, warned that US policy had made all the difference.

U.S. automakers have responded to these changes, he said, but a good strategy would be to “offer really compelling EV products and keep things moving in the background.”

Otherwise, the U.S. sector risks backsliding, agreed Pete Buttigieg, a former transportation secretary under former President Joe Biden.

Buttigieg said on another panel at the show that President Trump can’t stop electric vehicles from becoming the dominant vehicle technology.

“But he can prevent the United States from becoming the leader in that technology,” Buttigieg said. “The industry needs to move in a different direction.”

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Alexa St. John is a climate reporter for The Associated Press. Follow her on X: @alexa_stjohn. please contact her [email protected].

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