Portrait of Mary Barra
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Mary Barra on Elon Musk

Acknowledges EV leadership (moderate)

TL;DR

Mary Barra publicly stated to the President that Elon Musk and Tesla deserve significant credit for pioneering the electric vehicle transition.

Key Points

  • She stated in a public interview that she told President Biden to give credit to Elon Musk and Tesla for the EV transition.

  • The admission occurred after the President had credited her and GM for leading the electric vehicle revolution during a 2021 event.

  • The CEO previously suggested in a discussion that her company's goal was to catch up to Tesla's sales by 2025, while also claiming leadership.

Summary

Mary Barra, the CEO of General Motors, expressed that she privately corrected President Joe Biden after he credited her and GM for leading the electric vehicle transition in the United States. During an appearance at a high-profile summit, she directly told the President that much of the credit for the widespread EV adoption should instead be explicitly given to Elon Musk and Tesla. This acknowledgment contrasts with past events where Musk felt Tesla was deliberately excluded from White House EV discussions, leading to political friction between the company leader and the administration.

She made the statement when the President praised her for electrifying the automotive industry, at which point she deflected the praise by asserting, "Actually, I think a lot of that credit goes to Elon and Tesla." This suggests a pragmatic recognition of Tesla’s foundational role in the EV market, even as she promotes GM's own significant commitments and transition efforts. The exchange highlights a complex dynamic where a legacy automaker leader must publicly navigate the influence and pioneering status of the disruptive competitor.

Key Quotes

Actually, I think a lot of that credit goes to Elon and Tesla."

Frequently Asked Questions

Mary Barra publicly acknowledged that Elon Musk and Tesla deserve a substantial amount of credit for pioneering the electric vehicle transition. She mentioned telling the President that he should credit Tesla more explicitly for its role in driving EV adoption.

Her reported comments suggest a pragmatic stance that recognizes Tesla's foundational impact on the EV market, despite the competitive environment between GM and Tesla. She frames her acknowledgment as a desire for accurate recognition rather than taking credit for an industry shift started by others.

The General Motors CEO made her comments regarding crediting Elon Musk and Tesla during an interview at the New York Times Dealbook Summit in late 2025. This followed a 2021 instance where President Biden had focused praise on GM for EV efforts.