Compete or Collapse: The EV Shift America Can’t Ignore

Americans pride themselves on choice. The freedom to choose what we drive, what we build, and how we power our lives is woven into our culture. But today, those choices are at risk — not because someone is taking them away, but because the rest of the world is moving forward, and we’re standing still.

Globally, electric vehicles are taking over. In May 2025, one in four new vehicles sold worldwide was a plug-in. China has crossed the halfway mark, with more than half of its new car sales being electric or hybrid. Europe is racing to phase out gasoline and diesel. Meanwhile, American automakers and policymakers are still debating whether to invest in the future or cling to the past.

This is more than a story about cars. If we fail to compete, we won’t just lose export markets — we’ll lose our ability to make the vehicles Americans want to drive. Factories will close, jobs will vanish, and cheaper foreign EVs will fill our streets. In the name of preserving choice, we could end up with no real choices at all.

It’s time to face the facts: the world is electrifying. If we want to keep building cars in America, if we want to protect American jobs, and if we want Americans to have real freedom to choose, we must compete — now.

Global Surge in Electrification

While debate drags on in Washington and Detroit, the rest of the world isn’t waiting. Global plugin vehicle sales reached 25% of new car purchases in May 2025 — a remarkable milestone that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago. Fully electric vehicles alone now make up 16% of global sales, and that share is climbing fast.

China is leading the way, with more than 50% of its new car sales already plug-in or fully electric. Europe is close behind, steadily progressing toward its goal of phasing out gasoline and diesel cars by 2035. In markets from Southeast Asia to South America, EV adoption is accelerating thanks to lower prices, expanding charging networks, and growing consumer confidence.

And it isn’t just environmental policy pushing this shift. Automakers overseas are fiercely competing to give customers more choices, with hundreds of affordable EV models hitting showroom floors. In the U.S., however, many buyers still face a frustrating lack of selection, higher prices, and patchy charging infrastructure — making the gap between American and global markets even wider.

If we keep ignoring these trends, we risk more than lost exports. We risk having our own consumer options shrink as automakers shift production to meet global demand for EVs, leaving fewer resources to build gas-powered vehicles just for us. The global market is evolving — and it’s leaving the United States behind.

The U.S. is Falling Behind

Even as global EV adoption surges, the United States lags far behind. American EV sales have grown, but they still make up only a fraction of the new car market compared to Europe and China. Our infrastructure hasn’t kept up — public charging is still sparse in many areas, and high upfront prices make EVs feel out of reach for working families.

This leaves American drivers with fewer real choices. While other countries’ buyers enjoy a flood of new, affordable EV models, U.S. car shoppers often see only a limited selection of expensive options. And as global demand shifts, automakers are prioritizing production for the markets that are moving fastest. The risk is clear: if the United States doesn’t catch up, our local manufacturing will focus less on making vehicles for our own market and more on fulfilling overseas orders — or worse, will simply wither.

This is about more than consumer choice today. If American automakers can’t compete globally on EVs, they will lose scale, profits, and innovation capacity, making it harder to build any type of vehicle here at home. Our industry — and the millions of jobs connected to it — could collapse under the weight of global competition, leaving Americans dependent on imported vehicles, likely from China.

The world’s transition is picking up speed. If the U.S. fails to join it, we may soon find ourselves not just behind — but left out entirely.

What’s at Stake for American Jobs and Industry

The American auto industry is more than steel, wheels, and engines — it is millions of jobs, thousands of communities, and a cornerstone of our national identity. But those jobs, and the industries that support them, are facing a direct threat from a global EV transition that the U.S. is ignoring at its peril.

If other countries continue to electrify while we hesitate, American automakers will see shrinking export markets for traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. That will put assembly lines, supplier contracts, and dealership networks at risk. Communities that rely on auto plants could face devastating job losses. And the longer we delay building our own competitive EV sector, the harder it will be to catch up when demand for gas-powered cars finally collapses.

The risk goes even deeper. If our manufacturers lose their global edge, we could become dependent on foreign-built vehicles — most likely from China, which is investing heavily in both EV technology and production capacity. This is not just an economic vulnerability but a strategic one: ceding the future of transportation to geopolitical competitors threatens America’s ability to chart its own course.

By acting now, we can protect American workers, secure a thriving domestic auto industry, and keep the power to decide what we drive in our own hands. But if we don’t move soon, that power — and those jobs — will slip away.

The Oil Shock That’s Coming

For more than a century, America’s auto industry has been tightly bound to oil. From gasoline to diesel, fossil fuels have powered our vehicles, our supply chains, and entire communities. But as the world shifts to electric vehicles, that connection is under growing threat — and so is the stability of our energy-dependent industries.

Global oil demand is projected to decline sharply as more countries adopt EVs. That decline may seem gradual at first, but it will accelerate as more nations enforce phase-out targets for gasoline and diesel cars. When that happens, oil producers could see falling profits and tighter margins, leading to layoffs, bankruptcies, and economic ripple effects in communities that rely on fossil fuel jobs.

This coming oil shock matters to the auto industry because so much of our current manufacturing base — from parts suppliers to service shops — depends on the gasoline-powered ecosystem. As demand for oil shrinks, the economic foundation supporting that ecosystem will weaken. That threatens not just energy producers, but the millions of workers and small businesses connected to them.

If the United States fails to diversify — and fails to help its automakers make the shift to electric — we could face a dual crisis: collapsing demand for our oil exports, and a crumbling auto sector that cannot pivot in time. The longer we wait, the harder and more painful the transition will become.

Respecting Choice, Expanding Options

Some argue that America should not be forced into electric vehicles. They worry that mandates or bans will take away their freedom to choose what to drive. That concern deserves respect — after all, choice is one of America’s deepest values.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth: if we do nothing, our choices will actually shrink. As global demand moves toward electric vehicles, automakers will focus their production, innovation, and marketing dollars on those growing markets. That means fewer gasoline-powered models built for the U.S., fewer parts available, and rising costs for maintaining older vehicles.

Meanwhile, other countries are flooding their markets with dozens of affordable EV options, giving their citizens more freedom to choose among price points, features, and styles. Americans, on the other hand, still see limited selection, higher sticker prices, and patchy charging networks. In other words, the lack of investment here is what’s truly limiting our freedom of choice.

Supporting a strong EV industry does not mean forcing anyone to give up their car tomorrow. It means expanding choices for everyone, ensuring Americans can buy a reliable, affordable, American-made EV — or a cleaner hybrid — if they want to. It also means protecting the ability of American workers to build those vehicles, instead of surrendering our manufacturing future to foreign competition.

True freedom comes from having options. Right now, we’re on a path where those options could disappear — unless we act.

Policy Proposals to Keep America Competitive

If we want to protect American jobs, expand consumer choice, and keep our auto industry thriving, we need a focused, actionable strategy. Here are practical, commonsense steps that respect market freedom while giving the U.S. a fair chance to compete in the global EV transition:

Phase Out Fossil Fuel Subsidies and Redirect Funds to the EV Transition

The United States spends billions of dollars each year supporting fossil fuel companies through tax breaks, credits, and other incentives. By gradually reducing these subsidies, we can free up resources to invest in the vehicles of the future, strengthening our economy and preserving consumer choice.

Boost Domestic EV Production Incentives

Redirected funds can help automakers build affordable, desirable EVs in the United States, protecting union jobs and keeping our manufacturing base strong and resilient.

Modernize Charging Infrastructure Nationwide

A reliable, nationwide network of fast chargers is essential to making EVs practical for everyone, whether they live in cities or rural areas. This infrastructure investment will expand access and confidence for American drivers.

Protect Workers with a “Just Transition”

The transition to EVs should not leave fossil fuel or auto workers behind. Retraining programs, wage protections, and support for union jobs can help ensure workers have good-paying careers in battery and EV production.

Preserve Consumer Freedom with Balanced Policies

Avoiding blanket bans while using incentives, targets, and fair rules can accelerate EV adoption without taking away consumers’ freedom to choose the best vehicle for their lifestyle.

Strengthen Strategic Battery and Supply Chains

Investments in critical minerals, advanced batteries, and other high-tech components should happen on American soil. This will protect us from foreign dependence and secure our leadership in the next generation of automotive technology.

By phasing out fossil fuel subsidies and investing those resources in the industries of the future, we can protect American freedom of choice, safeguard well-paying jobs, and ensure that our auto industry remains globally competitive for decades to come.

Conclusion: The Future Is Coming, Ready or Not

The global auto industry is moving forward with or without us. As other countries race to electrify their transportation systems, they are expanding consumer options, strengthening their manufacturing bases, and preparing their economies for the future. Meanwhile, America risks being left behind, clinging to outdated policies and an industry structure that cannot survive the coming changes.

This isn’t just about what kind of car we drive. It’s about whether American workers will keep building those cars, whether our communities will thrive, and whether we will continue to have the freedom to choose from a wide range of affordable, innovative vehicles. If we fail to act, we will see our choices shrink, our factories close, and our streets filled with imports made elsewhere.

We still have time to lead. By shifting resources away from fossil fuel subsidies and investing in a robust, competitive EV industry, we can protect American jobs, expand choices for consumers, and secure our place in a rapidly changing world.

The world is moving. The question is simple: will America compete — or collapse?