President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Thursday setting a goal for half of all new vehicles made in the United States to be electric in some form by 2030. Biden signed the executive order after delivering a speech on the South Lawn of the White House, where staffers had parked several electric vehicles. After the signing, Biden took an electric Jeep Wrangler for a ride around the White House.

The executive order sets a target of 50% for electrifying vehicles and emphasizes the importance of “made in America.”  Biden said the new policy was key to strengthening the U.S. economy because electrification is the future of car manufacturing. The signing also follows through on Biden’s campaign promise “to reverse the previous administration’s short-sighted rollback of vehicle emissions and fuel-efficiency standards.”

Along with the 50% target for electrifying vehicles, the signed order also sets standards for car companies to gradually decrease emissions over the next five years. The effort is in line with goals set out in the Paris Agreement on climate change, which the United States rejoined this year under the Biden administration.  The White House said in a statement: “The executive order also kicks off development of long-term fuel efficiency and emissions standards to save consumers money, cut pollution, boost public health, advance environmental justice and tackle the climate crisis. The global market is shifting to electric vehicles and tapping their potential to save families money, lower pollution and make the air we breathe cleaner.”

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