Biden To Visit Detroit Auto Show Today, Promote Shift To EVs

DETROIT — President Joe Biden will be in Detroit on Wednesday afternoon to tour the Detroit Auto Show and give a speech highlighting the auto industry's transition toward electric vehicles.

During his address, Biden is expected to discuss how his leadership and economic policies have paved the path for the United States to become leaders in the future global electric vehicle market.

Biden is also expected to announce a $900 million plan to build electric vehicle chargers across 53,000 miles of the national highway system and 35 states, according to White House officials.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan will join Biden in announcing the electric vehicle infrastructure package.

"I think you are going to see the Detroit auto companies overtake Tesla and compete with Chinese companies who are also very far down the road on electric vehicles," Duggan told reporters on Tuesday.

The Detroit Auto Show is back in Detroit at the Huntington Place (formerly named Cobo Hall) for the first time since 2019. It was canceled in 2020 because of the COIVD-19 pandemic. The 2021 event was held outdoors in Pontiac as part of "Motorbella." The show is open to the public Sept. 17 to 25, with adult tickets selling for $20.

Biden will be the first sitting president to tour the auto show since former President Barack Obama did in 2016. This also won't be the first time Biden tours the show, as he did as vice president in 2014 to support for the city, which was recovering from bankruptcy. He also toured the show in 2017.