After the U.S. President Joe Biden snubbed Tesla in favor of unionized automakers in the recently-proposed electric vehicle (EV) tax credit increase, one company head is officially being questioned on why they’re getting different treatment.
In a video interview at The New York Times’ DealBook Summit between Andrew Sorkin and GM CEO Mary Barra, Sorkin pointed out that Tesla’s non-unionized employees make more money hourly than those who are at unions (via @Sawyer Merritt).
In the segment, Sorkin said, “It appears by my math that on average, Tesla employees, who are non-unionized, appears on an hourly basis may be making more money than unionized workers for example at GM.”
Sorkin later continued, “You’ve spent a lot of time with this administration. They’ve had a number of meetings around EVs; Tesla has not been invited to those meetings. Do you know why that is? Do you sit there and say this is a little strange given the role that [Tesla has] played.”
Last month, Barra said that GM would “absolutely” be able to catch up with Tesla’s U.S. EV sales on CNBC’s Squawk Box, having announced weeks earlier GM’s plans to double its annual revenue by 2030 in a renewed push towards the EV sector.
Elon Musk responded to the segment to say, “this is true,” while also noting the health insurance, stock and other benefits for Tesla’s non-union employees.
This is true. Also, Tesla employees get health insurance, stock & other benefits.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 29, 2021
You can watch the full New York Times segment below.
