The U.S. electric vehicle "transition" has faced significant challenges, but a chance for success now exists. Misrepresentations in longer accounts often overlook key factors. The U.S. Big Three automakers have seen their domestic market share decline, not primarily due to a lack of demand for EVs, but rather because of foreign-owned auto plants established within the U.S. These plants operated under terms that exempted them from the high-cost labor agreements of the United Auto Workers union.

Furthermore, the Big Three voluntarily shifted their focus away from sedans, concentrating instead on pickups and large SUVs. This strategic pivot has left them vulnerable. The market for these larger vehicles has been protected from foreign competition by a 25% tariff imposed in 1964, making it the sole segment of the U.S. car market to receive such protection. This historical tariff has allowed domestic manufacturers to maintain a competitive edge in these specific segments, even as they ceded ground elsewhere.