Rep. Williams: automakers "misread" electric-vehicle demand; praises rollback of CAFE rules
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Summary
In an interview with Mark Davis, Rep. Roger Williams criticized automakers' shift to electric vehicles as a market misread and said he supports repealing Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, recalling his role pushing for their removal.
Congressman Roger Williams told host Mark Davis that the major U.S. automakers "went woke" and misjudged consumer demand for electric vehicles. "There is no market for electric vehicles and this — they missed it," Williams said, arguing manufacturers should listen more to dealers and customers.
Williams also praised the rollback of federal fuel-economy regulations. "It was a great thing for Trump to do away with those CAFE standards," the congressman said, adding that he attended the White House event when the measure was signed and that eliminating the standards was an early priority of his congressional tenure. "First thing I did when I came to Congress almost 15 years ago was get a bill to do away with the standards," he said.
Why this matters: Williams's comments reflect a policy position that favors consumer choice and reduced regulatory mandates on automakers. A rollback of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards affects vehicle design, manufacturer planning and environmental regulatory outcomes; his remarks signal continued political support for deregulatory approaches from some House Republicans.
The interview included no formal proposal or pending committee action to change federal vehicle standards during the segment. Williams voiced political and market views rather than announcing legislation or a committee vote.