On the Dash:
- A Senate committee postponed a hearing that would have brought Ford, GM, and Stellantis CEOs together for joint testimony for the first time since 2008.
- Ford and GM objected to the hearing’s timing during the Detroit Auto Show and raised concerns about its scope and invited witnesses.
- The hearing was expected to focus on vehicle affordability, fuel economy rules, transportation policy, and the industry’s EV transition, with rescheduling now underway.
A Senate committee has postponed a hearing that would have brought together the CEOs of Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis for a joint testimony, following objections from the Detroit Three over the hearing’s timing and scope. The Commerce Committee is currently working with leaders to reschedule the meeting.
The pushback, led primarily by Ford, criticized the hearing’s timing, which was scheduled during the Detroit Auto Show, one of the auto industry’s most high-profile and critical events. It also conflicted with the automaker’s press conference and kickoff of its racing season at Michigan Central Station.
In a Dec. 12 letter to U.S. Sen. Cruz, initially reported by Politico, Ford argued that the hearing’s topic did not align with Farley’s role and that other company leaders would be better suited to testify. It also criticized that Tesla CEO Elon Musk was not invited, with Tesla’s vice president invited instead.
GM took a similar position, with CEO Mary Barra confirming she would attend the hearing on the condition that the other invited CEOs do so as well. However, the original hearing schedule conflicted with the opening of GM’s new global headquarters in Detroit.
Stellantis has not commented publicly on the matter.
The hearing, titled “Pedal to the Policy: The Views of the American Auto Industry on the Upcoming Surface Transportation Reauthorization,” was initially scheduled for Jan. 14 and is to discuss vehicle affordability, fuel economy regulations, transportation policy, and the industry’s transition to electric vehicles. If all three CEOs attend the hearing, it would mark the first joint testimony since the 2008 financial crisis.
Cruz raised the hearing publicly in early December at a White House event announcing a proposal to roll back federal fuel economy standards, which would provide significant relief for automakers and greater flexibility to produce vehicles that better align with current consumer demand.
