Remarks: Joe Biden Delivers Remarks at the Ford Rouge Electric Vehicle Center - May 18, 2021

And I wanted to be here today -- the day before you unveil the next generation of America's bestselling vehicle to the entire world -- to thank you. Thank you for showing how we win the competition of the 21st century. You know, how the future is going to be made -- it's gong to be made here in America. Made in America. [Applause]

Joe Biden

00:05:58 - 00:06:19 ()

Jamal Mance

00:01:00 - 00:01:04 ()

This one puts it in in the back, that one puts it on the front.

Joe Biden

00:06:19 - 00:06:39 ()

And I have to say, this brings me home. For more than 30 years, my dad, when we moved to Delaware, managed automobile dealerships in Delaware, including the Ford dealership.

Joe Biden

00:01:04 - 00:01:05 ()

I'll be damned.

Joe Biden

00:06:39 - 00:06:52 ()

And, man, did I like that '57 Ford Fairlane. [Laughs] Oh, boy, it ain't got nothing on F-150. But all kidding aside, that's what got me through school.

Liza Currie

00:01:05 - 00:01:07 ()

And, you know, I doubt I'd be -- I doubt that it would ever contribute $50 billion -- $50 billion -- it would support about 500,000 American jobs -- F-150 -- half of the 1 million American jobs Ford supports overall, like the 150 series.

Joe Biden

00:06:52 - 00:07:14 ()

Joe Biden

00:01:07 - 00:01:08 ()

I've seen it.

Joe Biden

00:07:14 - 00:07:37 ()

You know, I just got a tour of the groundbreaking electric vehicle center here, along with the UAW workers. And they showed me the technology they're using to build this first-ever fully electric F-150. I was able to sit in it. Quite frankly, I -- they let me see it. So I apologize to you at home won't see it until tomorrow, but, man, you're going to like it.

Jamal Mance

00:01:08 - 00:01:19 ()

This is where the operator would, uh -- he'd do the picking of the glass, which, uh -- depending on which level glass he would need. Put a primer on it and he would pick it up, put it right there.

Joe Biden

00:07:37 - 00:07:53 ()

And -- and I'd sure like to drive it. I wonder whether or not I can lose the Secret Service and go out to the track. But -- you all think I'm kidding, don't you? [Laughter] The press knows I'm not. [Laughter]

Joe Biden

00:01:19 - 00:01:30 ()

All right. You know, you guys don't know this, but Delaware, the state of Delaware had the highest percentage of autoworkers in the nation.

Joe Biden

00:07:53 - 00:08:26 ()

Look, the future of the auto industry is electric. There's no turning back. And as Rory says, "The American auto industry is at a crossroads." And the real question is whether we'll lead or we'll fall behind in the race to the future; or whether we'll build these vehicles and the batteries that go in them here in the United States or rely on other countries; or whether the jobs to build these vehicles and batteries, that are good-paying union jobs with benefits -- jobs that will sustain and grow the middle class.

Bill Ford

00:01:30 - 00:01:31 ()

Oh, really?

Joe Biden

00:08:26 - 00:08:33 ()

Right now, China is leading in this race. Make no bones about it; it's a fact.

Joe Biden

00:01:31 - 00:01:47 ()

Because we're so small a workforce, we had the largest GM plant in the country, the largest Chrysler plant, it used to be a tank plant, and then Mopar and -- anyway, the total of 34,000 --

Joe Biden

00:08:33 - 00:09:05 ()

You know, we used to invest more in research and development than any country in the world and China was number eight -- or, excuse me, number nine. We now are number eight and China is number one. Can't let that be sustained. The future is going to be determined by the best minds in the world, by those who break through new barriers.

Bill Ford

00:01:47 - 00:01:47 ()

Wow.

Joe Biden

00:09:05 - 00:09:38 ()

You know, it has -- China -- the largest, fastest-growing electrical vehicle market in the world, and a key part of an electric vehicle is the battery. Right now, 80 percent of the manufacturing capacity of those batteries is done in China, though not the battery for the 150 -- the F-150. We went down to Georgia and took care of that.

Joe Biden

00:01:47 - 00:01:50 ()

UAW members out of the workforce real estate.

Joe Biden

00:09:38 - 00:09:56 ()

That allows them to corner the market on the supplies and raw materials for those batteries. Important almost -- importing almost all the lithium -- 90 percent -- that comes from countries from like Australia, which lead the world in mining these kinds of critical materials.

Bill Ford

00:01:50 - 00:01:50 ()

Right.

Joe Biden

00:09:56 - 00:10:10 ()

And here's the deal: It's not that China's battery technology is that much more innovative than anyone else's. Remember, our national labs in the United States, our universities, our automakers led in the development of this technology.

Joe Biden

00:01:50 - 00:01:56 ()

Of only about 410,000 people. None of it. We don't have any of it left anymore.

Joe Biden

00:10:10 - 00:10:30 ()

But today, China has a bigger manufacturing scale than all other countries. And they're using that scale to make these batteries not just in China, but they're making them in Germany and in Mexico. And they're now exporting those electric vehicles around the world, with sights on the American market.

Bill Ford

00:01:56 - 00:01:57 ()

And they think they're going to win. Well, I got news for them: They will not win this race. We can't let them. [Applause] We have to move fast, and that's what you're doing here.

Joe Biden

00:10:30 - 00:10:40 ()

Joe Biden

00:01:57 - 00:02:06 ()

But, uh, anyways, I spent a lot of time in the auto plant. That's how I thought it was going to get me. And by the way, I got through. My dad ran automobile dealerships.

Joe Biden

00:10:40 - 00:11:00 ()

When President Obama and I were in -- when Barack and I were in office, that was what we were going to do. Remember 2009? The auto industry was flat on its back. And remember, I got criticized by the press because I was the auto guy, pushing.

Liza Currie

00:02:06 - 00:02:07 ()

Really?

Joe Biden

00:11:00 - 00:11:19 ()

Well, guess what? We were told that we'd never be able to sell American-made cars at the same rate as before. But we didn't listen. We bet on you, the American auto worker. We extended a lifeline and we stepped up, saved more than a million jobs. [Applause]

Joe Biden

00:02:07 - 00:02:14 ()

I got through on cars. Lots of them. It's pretty cool.

Joe Biden

00:11:19 - 00:11:27 ()

Working with the auto industry, we set fuel efficiency standards and provided incentives for folks to buy fuel-efficient vehicles.

Liza Currie

00:02:14 - 00:02:23 ()

Pretty cool. So, we have lots of new technologies coming up. That's just kind of a simulation. I will show you what we're going to be doing here over at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center. Pretty exciting stuff, right?

Joe Biden

00:11:27 - 00:11:41 ()

And through the Recovery Act, we made the largest investment in clean energy and battery technology ever. And the Big Three emerged from the crisis in a position to sell millions of vehicles made right here in the USA.

Joe Biden

00:02:23 - 00:02:26 ()

Thank you. Thanks for what you're doing.

Joe Biden

00:11:41 - 00:11:52 ()

But then the previous administration came into office. They rolled back the standards we set -- rollbacks that the Ford Motor Company opposed.

Corey Williams

00:02:26 - 00:02:27 ()

That's a windshield.

Joe Biden

00:11:52 - 00:12:04 ()

Despite bipartisan support for consumer incentives, they let the federal tax credit expire, penalizing autoworkers who were selling the most electric vehicles at the time.

Tom Moore

00:02:27 - 00:02:27 ()

You're more than welcome. Thank you.

Joe Biden

00:12:04 - 00:12:18 ()

They announced infrastructure week -- and they announced it and announced it and announced it and announced it every week for four years, and didn't do a damn thing. They didn't get the job done.

Joe Biden

00:02:27 - 00:02:33 ()

We're at an inflection point in America. You guys are the ones that are going to save it. For real.

Joe Biden

00:12:18 - 00:12:38 ()

Folks, the rest of the world is moving fast. They're moving ahead. They're not waiting for the United States of America. Government, labor, industry -- working together -- have to step up. And we have a playbook that will work.

Liza Currie

00:02:33 - 00:02:33 ()

We're going to set a new pace for electric vehicles. That means reversing the previous administration's short-sighted rollback of vehicle emissions and efficiency standards, setting strong, clear targets where we need to go.

Joe Biden

00:12:38 - 00:12:55 ()

Joe Biden

00:02:33 - 00:02:40 ()

We used to be engaged in more research and development than any country in the world. Now, we're No. 8. China's No. 1.

Joe Biden

00:12:55 - 00:13:12 ()

It means passing the American Jobs Plan to do three things. One, transform our infrastructure. Our infrastructure is ranked like 38th in the world. This is the United States of America, for God's sake.

Tom Moore

00:02:40 - 00:02:40 ()

Right.

Joe Biden

00:13:12 - 00:13:36 ()

We're going to put Americans to work modernizing our roads, our highways, our ports, our airports, rails, and transit systems. That includes putting IBEW members and the union workers to work installing 500,000 charging stations along our roads and highways, our homes and our apartments. [Applause] The IBEW is ready to do it, and they can.

Joe Biden

00:02:40 - 00:02:44 ()

We've got to beat this up. They'll eat our lunch again, right?

Joe Biden

00:13:36 - 00:13:57 ()

Two, we're going to boost our manufacturing capacity. That's why the American Jobs Plan invests in new and retooled union facilities: grants to kickstart new battery and parts production, loans and tax credits to boost manufacturing of these clean vehicles.

Tom Moore

00:02:44 - 00:02:44 ()

Right.

Joe Biden

00:13:57 - 00:14:17 ()

It also makes the largest investment in research and development in generations. That's going to help innovate, manufacture, and build the supply chains for batteries and semi-conductors and the small computer chips that make electric trucks and cars go -- to be even more reliant than they are now.

Liza Currie

00:02:44 - 00:02:44 ()

That's it.

Joe Biden

00:14:17 - 00:14:22 ()

It matters. The little things matter.

Joe Biden

00:02:44 - 00:02:45 ()

Thank you, guys.

Joe Biden

00:14:22 - 00:14:48 ()

We saw, last night, the Senate voted overwhelmingly to begin work on part of the bill that I've been pushing to strengthen our innovation in infrastructure by investing in research and development and manufacturing. I don't remember the exact number, but it was pretty high. I think it was 83 to something in a bipartisan vote. That's a good first step.

Liza Currie

00:02:45 - 00:02:46 ()

And your members of Congress here in Michigan -- they know the value of manufacturing as well as anyone and are vital in pushing forward that bill and others.

Joe Biden

00:14:48 - 00:14:58 ()

Tom Moore

00:02:46 - 00:02:47 ()

Never again should we be in the situation we face today with semiconductor shortages: The United States -- we can't manufacture semi-conductors. We were the beginning.

Joe Biden

00:14:58 - 00:15:15 ()

Jamal Mance

00:02:47 - 00:02:53 ()

Thank you very much. Have a great day.

Joe Biden

00:15:15 - 00:15:42 ()

You know, I think some people think I'm too -- too proud of what the United States always did and why I get so frustrated when we're sliding. But I make no apologies for it. We know these kinds of federal investments work.

Joe Biden

00:02:53 - 00:02:55 ()

See you, boss.

Joe Biden

00:15:42 - 00:16:05 ()

It was the Defense Department and NASA that got the modern semi-conductor industry on its feet decades ago. We started it. Your tax dollars. Our own Department of Energy pioneered and transformed the battery indury [industry] when Barack and I were in office.

Liza Currie

00:02:55 - 00:02:56 ()

I'm the boss.

Joe Biden

00:16:05 - 00:16:18 ()

And through the Recovery Act grants and loans, battery prices dropped 80 percent -- 80 percent -- because we were looking forward.

Joe Biden

00:02:56 - 00:02:56 ()

All right.

Joe Biden

00:16:18 - 00:16:35 ()

We need that same mindset today. We have to look forward. And, you know, we have to work to support consumers and these fleets.

Tom Moore

00:02:56 - 00:02:57 ()

Have a good visit.

Joe Biden

00:16:35 - 00:16:49 ()

That means new purchasing incentives for consumers to buy clean vehicles like the electric Ford 150 -- a union-made product -- right here in America. But all the pieces must be made in America.

Joe Biden

00:02:57 - 00:02:58 ()

Thanks, guys.

Joe Biden

00:16:49 - 00:17:02 ()

It means spurring demand by converting the federal government's enormous fleet of vehicles into clean vehicles and supporting electric transit systems and school buses.

Tom Moore

00:02:58 - 00:02:58 ()

Have a good visit.

Joe Biden

00:17:02 - 00:17:21 ()

Folks, when I got elected, I signed an executive order saying we're going to buy American. As President, I get to award contracts in the area of 600 to 700 billion dollars a year -- from building aircraft carriers, to railings that go in -- in buildings.

Joe Biden

00:02:58 - 00:02:59 ()

Thank you. Thank you.

Joe Biden

00:17:21 - 00:17:42 ()

Guess what? And Representative Kildee knows: I'm not letting a single contract to a single company that does not hire Americans, have all American parts, and has a supply chain that is an American product supply chain. [Applause]

Corey Williams

00:02:59 - 00:03:05 ()

Mr. President, we're going to go to the next stage, and we're going to show you some of the --

Joe Biden

00:17:42 - 00:18:03 ()

And, by the way, that's not violating any trade agreement. It's been the law since the '30s, but no one has had the courage or the nerve to insist on it being applied. It's no violation of the World Trade Organization or anything else. If we're spending American tax dollars, we're able to say, "Buy American."

Joe Biden

00:03:05 - 00:03:08 ()

Guys I grew up with that works at auto plants.

Joe Biden

00:18:03 - 00:18:19 ()

But there's a lot of exceptions in the law. If you don't have the part immediately available in the supply chain, you can go abroad and get it. And anyone in the agency can say, "I can't find it here. I'm going somewhere." Not anymore. They got to go through the White House. Not a joke. Nobody can give that exception now.

Corey Williams

00:03:08 - 00:03:14 ()

Mr. President, you just stand there. And now, I want to introduce Kumar Galhotra, who is our president --

Joe Biden

00:18:19 - 00:18:36 ()

Because there's thousands of companies out there that are able to do -- small companies -- 3, 4, 10, 15 people -- who can supply those pieces if they know they can compete for them.

Joe Biden

00:03:14 - 00:03:16 ()

We're old buddies. We met one of them a moment ago.

Joe Biden

00:18:36 - 00:19:06 ()

My brother has an expression -- a guy named Pete McLaughlin, who was a great basketball player -- played for Providence -- was a good, close friend. He'd say, "Joe, you got to know how to know. You got to know how to know." We don't let the American companies know what's available to them, especially if they're small. So we're going to have a -- we have an office and a facility in the White House to let people know what's needed.

Corey Williams

00:03:16 - 00:03:16 ()

We're merging.

Joe Biden

00:19:06 - 00:19:26 ()

And there is another thing we have in our playbook that's going to outcompete other nations -- the biggest secret we have: the American worker. [Applause] Not a joke. They're the finest workforce in the world. It's our ace in that deck.

Kumar Galhotra

00:03:16 - 00:03:17 ()

Good afternoon.

Joe Biden

00:19:26 - 00:19:43 ()

Now, I know many of you watching at home are like the folks I grew up with in Scranton and in Claymont, Delaware. They feel left out, left behind in an economy and an industry that's rapidly changing. I understand it. I really do.

Joe Biden

00:03:17 - 00:03:19 ()

Hey, buddy, how are you?

Joe Biden

00:19:43 - 00:19:47 ()

But we will leave no one behind.

Unidentified

00:03:19 - 00:03:20 ()

Good. You focus on her team.

Joe Biden

00:19:47 - 00:20:20 ()

Nearly 90 percent of the jobs created in my American Jobs Plan do not require a bachelor's degree; 75 percent don't require a associate's degree. We're going to be working with companies and community colleges and technical schools and union-led apprentice and training programs to make sure that American workers will be prepared to compete with anyone in the world, just like Ford does with its workforce training center here in Dearborn.

Joe Biden

00:03:20 - 00:03:21 ()

And when we invest in our infrastructure, we're going to buy American products, materials, services from American businesses -- made in America. And we'll do everything in our power to encourage and protect the right of workers to unionize and collectively bargain. [Applause]

Joe Biden

00:20:20 - 00:20:45 ()

Kumar Galhotra

00:03:21 - 00:03:37 ()

So, Mr. President, we're electrifying our most iconic vehicles. Vehicles like our Mustang, uh, the Transit, the F-150, which we're going to build right here. But to total transition from internal combustion to battery-electric, it's going to take more than just vehicles. Uh, for example, our dealers need to be ready for the new technology.

Joe Biden

00:20:45 - 00:21:15 ()

I met with, I think it was more than a dozen CEOs of the major Fortune 500 companies. We started off and I said, "I want to be clear with you: I'm a union guy." And every one of them but one said, "I understand." Because now they're realizing what Mr. Ford realizes: that you are the best workers available. You're the best trained. You're the most capable. And you save overall.

Kumar Galhotra

00:03:37 - 00:03:59 ()

Uh, happy to say 2,300 of our dealers are already fully recertified, and we're growing that number. Secondly, the charging infrastructure needs to be there as the volumes grow. So, we've put together one of the largest charging infrastructures in the country. Uh, about 60,000 plugs, but that's not enough.

Joe Biden

00:21:15 - 00:21:40 ()

Bottom line: The American Jobs Plan is a blue-collar blueprint to rebuild America -- a blue-collar blueprint to build America. [Applause] And we need automakers and other companies to keep investing here in America and not take the benefits of our public investments and expand electric vehicles and battery manufacturing production abroad.

Kumar Galhotra

00:03:59 - 00:04:07 ()

So, we as an industry and as a country need to invest a lot more, uh, to grow that number as the volumes grow.

Joe Biden

00:21:40 - 00:21:51 ()

We need you to deepen your partnership with the UAW, pay good wages, and support communities like Dearborn across the country. We need to come together as a nation.

Joe Biden

00:04:07 - 00:04:27 ()

Well, one of the things I have in my job's plan is 550,000 charging stations, along our highways that the federal government will put in. Because the truth of the matter is, it's the thing that's going to jumpstart -- we're at an inflection point in America. We're either going to move and take over this area, or we're going to be left behind.

Joe Biden

00:21:51 - 00:22:09 ()

The Vice President and I have had a number of meetings in the Oval Office with Republican leaders in Congress and members of Congress. We believe we can find a bipartisan deal on infrastructure. And we look forward to hearing more details of their proposal -- which they're going to submit a counterproposal either later today or tomorrow to me.

Kumar Galhotra

00:04:27 - 00:04:28 ()

Absolutely.

Joe Biden

00:22:09 - 00:22:24 ()

But we've made one thing clear: We'll compromise, but doing nothing is not an option. Doing nothing is not an option. The world is not waiting, I say for a second time.

Joe Biden

00:04:28 - 00:04:56 ()

And, uh, you know, it's a little bit like my grandfather. I -- I -- he died when I was six months old. My grandfather used to work for American Oil Company. His job was to go back in the -- in the '30s, he even worked for Mr. Blaustein. And he used to go from place to place opening up gas stations because no one wanted to have a -- all this, all this gasoline and tanks underneath the ground in their neighborhoods.

Joe Biden

00:22:24 - 00:22:51 ()

I'll conclude with this: Last month, I kept my commitment to convene the leaders of the major economies around the world from Russia, China, India, Japan, the European Union. I convened them all. I think there were 48 or 50 heads of state -- presidents and prime ministers -- a meeting I hosted, by the White House, on one of the most consequential issues facing the world: the climate crisis.

Joe Biden

00:04:56 - 00:05:19 ()

And that's what his job was to open up gas stations. That's how we got to Scranton and Wilmington. And, uh, it's the same basic principle. We got to, you know, you ought to be able to go -- and even though these batteries are increasing significantly the distance you can go, the power they possess, the size, the weight, it's still going to take -- you should be able to get in a car, electric vehicle, and drive across the country without having to worry.

Joe Biden

00:22:51 - 00:23:17 ()

And I made it clear at the outset, as each of they -- these folks came on, what I've long believed: When I think of the climate crisis -- beyond its devastation to lives and livelihoods and the health of our very planet -- I think "jobs." I think jobs when I think climate change -- good-paying union jobs. I think about the UAW workers here today.

Kumar Galhotra

00:05:19 - 00:05:36 ()

Precisely. That's -- that's -- that's where we need to go. And speaking of batteries, you know, we've been doing this for a long time. We did our first hybrid electric in 2004. You know, the battery that was in there, you'll see behind you, the top of that big, black box? It was --

Joe Biden

00:23:17 - 00:23:29 ()

I wanted to make sure that the world could see that there was a consensus that we are at an inflection point in our history, and almost every major leader in the world spoke to it.

Joe Biden

00:05:36 - 00:05:36 ()

Yep.

Joe Biden

00:23:29 - 00:23:41 ()

If we act to save the planet, we can create millions of good-paying jobs, generate significant economic growth and opportunity to raise the standard of living for people not only here, but around the world.

Kumar Galhotra

00:05:36 - 00:05:39 ()

Big, it was bulky, it was expensive.

Joe Biden

00:23:41 - 00:23:58 ()

But I also wanted to put the world on notice: America is back. America is back. [Applause] In the competition for the 21st century, the future will be built right here in America. [Applause]

Unidentified

00:05:39 - 00:05:40 ()

Check out the whole car.

Joe Biden

00:23:58 - 00:24:04 ()

Look at this plant. We're moving. We're working again. We're dreaming again. We're discovering again. We're leading the world again.

Kumar Galhotra

00:05:40 - 00:05:46 ()

Um. And what you'll see here, Mr. President, are the -- the next generations, the second, third, and the fourth.

Joe Biden

00:24:04 - 00:24:29 ()

We have shown each other and the world that there's no quit in America. There's simply no quit in America. And that's never, ever -- it's -- every time I have these, sometimes knock-down, drag-them-outs with heads of state in private -- they'll say something, and I'll say, "Look, it's never been a good bet to bet against America. Never, never, never."

Joe Biden

00:05:46 - 00:05:50 ()

I'm -- I'm not supposed to leave my spot, but do you mind?

Joe Biden

00:24:29 - 00:24:45 ()

This is the United States of America. There's not a single thing -- and I believe this with every fiber in me -- that not a single thing -- nothing -- beyond our capacity when we act together. And that's exactly what we're about to do, starting with all of you.

Kumar Galhotra

00:05:50 - 00:06:09 ()

And as you can tell, they're getting lighter, they're getting, uh, smaller, they're even getting less expensive. But still, the -- the -- a battery electric's propulsion system is substantially more expensive than an internal -- internal combustion system. So, for example, that battery was 200 pounds, this one is now 60 pounds.

Joe Biden

00:24:45 - 00:25:00 ()

And thank you for allowing me to be here. May God bless you. And may God protect our troops. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. [Applause]

Joe Biden

00:06:09 - 00:06:13 ()

Now, is that the totality of the battery? You're going to --

Kumar Galhotra

00:06:13 - 00:06:14 ()

I'm sorry?

Joe Biden

00:06:14 - 00:06:15 ()

Is this -- is this it?

Kumar Galhotra

00:06:15 - 00:06:24 ()

No. This is for our hybrid vehicle, Explorer, and the F-150 hybrid. You will see down there for the -- the big battery electric for F-150, that's much bigger than this one.

Joe Biden

00:06:24 - 00:06:27 ()

OK. Because that's what I was going to say. You've really -- you surprised me.

Kumar Galhotra

00:06:27 - 00:06:28 ()

Yeah. No. But this is --

Joe Biden

00:06:28 - 00:06:33 ()

I mean, this, uh -- I've learned something brand new. I thought I knew it all, isn't it? Oh, that's amazing.

Kumar Galhotra

00:06:33 - 00:06:35 ()

But it's amazing how far we've come from that -- to that --

Joe Biden

00:06:35 - 00:06:37 ()

Oh, yeah. No, no, it's outstanding.

Kumar Galhotra

00:06:37 - 00:06:38 ()

And it, uh -- so --

Joe Biden

00:06:38 - 00:06:39 ()

It's absolutely astounding.

Kumar Galhotra

00:06:39 - 00:06:56 ()

We're investing a lot in, you know, making the batteries cheaper, making them more dense in energy. And the batteries turn, then the motors, and the -- the transaxles. My friend Elise here works at our Van-Dyke plant. We're building those right here in Michigan at our Van-Dyke plant. And um, I'm going to hand it to her, so she can --

Joe Biden

00:06:56 - 00:07:16 ()

By the way, you buy one of these vehicles [Inaudible] trust, you can run all electricity in your house. You think I'm kidding. Your apartment -- you can actually hook it up to your apartment. You know, right now, you hook it and you -- you plug into -- if you have an electric vehicle or a hybrid, you plug into -- down in your garage an outlet.

Joe Biden

00:07:16 - 00:07:18 ()

And you're going to be plugging in the other way.

Kumar Galhotra

00:07:18 - 00:07:19 ()

That -- that's absolutely correct.

Joe Biden

00:07:19 - 00:07:20 ()

It's really astounding.

Kumar Galhotra

00:07:20 - 00:07:21 ()

We're going to do that with our F-150.

Elise Dorsey-Holden

00:07:21 - 00:07:21 ()

Hi.

Joe Biden

00:07:21 - 00:07:24 ()

I'm sorry.

Elise Dorsey-Holden

00:07:24 - 00:07:28 ()

Hi, Mr. President. This is, um, the rotor, the ED-40 rotor.

Joe Biden

00:07:28 - 00:07:30 ()

Sorry, I'm having trouble hearing you. Yup.

Elise Dorsey-Holden

00:07:30 - 00:07:44 ()

And this is the ED-40 stater, which this rotor is placed in machine -- the machine and assemble this. And the stater. And this is placed inside the E-Trans.

Joe Biden

00:07:44 - 00:07:45 ()

Yup.

Elise Dorsey-Holden

00:07:45 - 00:07:57 ()

And the people at Ford Van-Dyke are very excited and fortunate to have the opportunity to build this product for the American people. And Ron Mays is going to explain how the E-Trans is assembled.

Joe Biden

00:07:57 - 00:08:02 ()

These jobs, jobs, union jobs.

Elise Dorsey-Holden

00:08:02 - 00:08:03 ()

Yes.

Joe Biden

00:08:03 - 00:08:04 ()

Because remember the word union.

Elise Dorsey-Holden

00:08:04 - 00:08:05 ()

Yes.

Ron May

00:08:05 - 00:08:06 ()

Good afternoon, Mr. --

Joe Biden

00:08:06 - 00:08:07 ()

How are you, man?

Ron May

00:08:07 - 00:08:34 ()

Good afternoon, Mr. President. I am in charge as far as assembling the e-motor transmission, which, on your front half, is your gearbox; the middle is your housing; and with your end cap, ISO brain of the whole situation. This is your primary, uh, drive unit, which is sit in the front of the vehicle. This has your parking brake assembly on it, which -- other things also. [Crosstalk]

Joe Biden

00:08:34 - 00:08:38 ()

There you go, man. The idea to have something this small.

Unidentified

00:08:38 - 00:08:41 ()

Yeah. It's incredible.

Joe Biden

00:08:41 - 00:08:41 ()

It's astounding.

Ron May

00:08:41 - 00:08:42 ()

It's -- it's pretty incredible.

Joe Biden

00:08:42 - 00:08:46 ()

I'll tell you. Thank you.

Ron May

00:08:46 - 00:08:53 ()

We at UAW 2280 are very honored and proud to be a part of it, Semper Fi, Mr. President.

Joe Biden

00:08:53 - 00:08:55 ()

Not only Semper Fi, but I'm a union president.

Ron May

00:08:55 - 00:08:58 ()

Very well. Thank you, sir.

Joe Biden

00:08:58 - 00:09:00 ()

Make no bones about it. Well, thank you.

Elise Dorsey-Holden

00:09:00 - 00:09:00 ()

Mr. President, we're going to go down this way --

Unidentified

00:09:00 - 00:09:04 ()

Joe Biden

00:09:04 - 00:09:05 ()

All right.

Unidentified

00:09:05 - 00:09:06 ()

And look at some really cool stuff.

Joe Biden

00:09:06 - 00:09:08 ()

Hey, fellas. How are you?

Unidentified

00:09:08 - 00:09:09 ()

Good. How are you? How are you doing?

Unidentified

00:09:09 - 00:09:12 ()

Mr. President, you're over there. I'm going to [Inaudible].

Joe Biden

00:09:12 - 00:09:16 ()

Yeah. I got to -- I got to stand -- if I say anything, you know, like let me know right away, will you?

Unidentified

00:09:16 - 00:09:16 ()

Yes, sir.

Joe Biden

00:09:16 - 00:09:19 ()

Let me know ahead of time. Hi.

Unidentified

00:09:19 - 00:09:20 ()

Adrian Price --

Joe Biden

00:09:20 - 00:09:22 ()

You can smile. It's OK.

Unidentified

00:09:22 - 00:09:32 ()

And the team. And Adrian is the director of Advanced Manufacturing. And he's going to talk about some of the -- the next gen in manufacturing, what's going to take us to the next 100 years in Ford Motor Company.

Joe Biden

00:09:32 - 00:09:33 ()

So, good afternoon, Mr. President.

Adrian Price

00:09:33 - 00:09:34 ()

Joe Biden

00:09:34 - 00:09:35 ()

Good afternoon.

Adrian Price

00:09:35 - 00:09:52 ()

Really good to have your here in our rep center, where we're going to be building the, uh, the future of electrified trucks in, uh -- here in the U.S. And as you know, we have a, uh, tremendous workforce here at Ford, uh, bigger than any other -- in the -- in the U.S. in terms of, uh, UAW. And we want to talk a little bit about the future of work.

Adrian Price

00:09:52 - 00:10:11 ()

And for us, the future of work is -- is actually people and technology working together in harmony. And so you probably saw as you walked past there, our scanning robot that's used by the engineering team to map out the entire facility, and we design everything online in digital before we actually, uh, start to build the building.

Adrian Price

00:10:11 - 00:10:16 ()

And then, you probably saw here as you came past our two, uh, big AGVs.

Joe Biden

00:10:16 - 00:10:16 ()

Yup.

Adrian Price

00:10:16 - 00:10:30 ()

Uh, those we use for, uh, moving the bodies around the plant, and again, they work together with our team here, uh, to help them facilitate the builds, and we can actually adjust the height ergonomically for different people in the workstations. So it's, uh, matching the -- the job to --

Joe Biden

00:10:30 - 00:10:31 ()

The people, so that, um, we can make the most out of it. And then, we're also launching a series of new technologies, including some gamification technology that we use actually just to focus on the issues for the team, so they're not bombarded with the -- uh, with issues and items, but they can focus on getting their job done.

Adrian Price

00:10:31 - 00:10:48 ()

Adrian Price

00:10:48 - 00:10:54 ()

And then, lastly, right behind you here, we have, uh, one of the largest cobots in the world.

Joe Biden

00:10:54 - 00:10:54 ()

Yup.

Adrian Price

00:10:54 - 00:11:06 ()

And that's a collaborative robot that works together with people so people can work, uh, right next to it. And, uh, Penny here, who's the team leader for, uh, this area is going to show you with one of our baby cobots --

Joe Biden

00:11:06 - 00:11:07 ()

Uh, how she can work together, uh, collaboratively with the, uh, with the robot.

Adrian Price

00:11:07 - 00:11:12 ()

Joe Biden

00:11:12 - 00:11:12 ()

So, instead of it being in a guarded area, as soon as it touches Penny, it will stop, and then it will restart its job. And so she can actually stand right next to it. So, once we start the lineup here, Penny will actually be working with this giant cobot behind you as she, uh, works on the, uh -- uh -- um, works with this robot that's actually measuring, uh, the onboard scale system that we have in the, uh, all-new F-150, uh, that enables us to indicate to, uh, the customer how full their bed is, uh, with whatever they're hauling or shipping around the country, and to be able to do that safely.

Adrian Price

00:11:12 - 00:11:46 ()

Adrian Price

00:11:46 - 00:11:56 ()

So that's something that we're using, uh, from a technology standpoint to help us, um, and again, like collaboratively, people and, uh, and technology working together for the future.

Joe Biden

00:11:56 - 00:12:02 ()

Is there a training program that e -- each employee will be going through before, and get to before --

Adrian Price

00:12:02 - 00:12:03 ()

Yeah. Yeah.

Unidentified

00:12:03 - 00:12:10 ()

Yes. Very extensive training because it's a big transition, but it's also, um, much simpler work.

Joe Biden

00:12:10 - 00:12:16 ()

Yeah. It is, but I mean, how -- is there a -- a time frame for that? Do you have to go --

Adrian Price

00:12:16 - 00:12:28 ()

Yeah. As we -- as we prepare for launch, we have a technical training center that we have in partnership with the UAW, and so our employees go through that, and then they get individual on-the-job training associated with the area that they're operating.

Joe Biden

00:12:28 - 00:12:28 ()

Gotcha.

Adrian Price

00:12:28 - 00:12:49 ()

So, uh, our -- our team here, uh, are all going to be team leaders operating in the plant, um, and working with this technology. And in fact, they're actually the experts. They know more about any of this stuff than, uh, the rest of the engineering team. So oftentimes, uh, Penny spends a lot of time answering questions for people and -- and actually managing the process.

Joe Biden

00:12:49 - 00:13:17 ()

Well, thank you. You know, we're at a real inflection point. And everyone just comes along every 75 to 100 years, and you are the point of that arrow, of us being able to be just a giant. You talk about how many jobs here, but the way we're really going to increase jobs beyond what you're doing here -- I know, I get a lot of your friends say, "What about the transmission plant?

Joe Biden

00:13:17 - 00:13:35 ()

They're not going to have one now. What about this? What about that?" But we got to take over the world market. That's what this is about, being the best in the world and be -- exporting these. That's what we can do if we focus. Anyway, thank you for what you know and what you do. Appreciate it.

Adrian Price

00:13:35 - 00:13:37 ()

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President.

Joe Biden

00:13:37 - 00:13:38 ()

The whole union.

Adrian Price

00:13:38 - 00:13:39 ()

Uh-huh.

Joe Biden

00:13:39 - 00:13:41 ()

OK. All right.

Unidentified

00:13:41 - 00:13:44 ()

Thanks. Thanks, guys.

Joe Biden

00:13:44 - 00:13:45 ()

Which way am I heading?

Unidentified

00:13:45 - 00:13:51 ()

We're going to go this way, Mr. President.

Joe Biden

00:13:51 - 00:13:52 ()

I want to introduce you to our chief program engineer --

Unidentified

00:13:52 - 00:13:55 ()

Unidentified

00:13:55 - 00:14:00 ()

If you can get right back here, sir.

Joe Biden

00:14:00 - 00:14:01 ()

So this is a part of her creation, so -- and the team.

Unidentified

00:14:01 - 00:14:03 ()

Linda Zhang.

Joe Biden

00:14:03 - 00:14:05 ()

Hi, Linda. How are you?

Unidentified

00:14:05 - 00:14:09 ()

Linda Zhang

00:14:09 - 00:14:10 ()

Hi, Mr. President.

Joe Biden

00:14:10 - 00:14:11 ()

How are you?

Linda Zhang

00:14:11 - 00:14:12 ()

Thanks for joining us.

Joe Biden

00:14:12 - 00:14:13 ()

I'm over here.

Linda Zhang

00:14:13 - 00:14:37 ()

I'm Linda Zhang. I'm the -- I'm the chief engineer of this product. And, um, here at Ford, with nearly a century of truck know-how, uh, we know that reliability and durability are really important for our customers. So when we went to create this all-electric F150, we knew that we need -- we had to put it through the same engineering and testing, uh, testing regimen as all of our F-series trucks.

Linda Zhang

00:14:37 - 00:15:02 ()

So, behind you here, we've got videos of our all-electric truck going through some tough testing here in Michigan. Also, we do this around the country, um, whether it's up high grades, towing a trailer, or, um, here, going through different terrains here in Michigan. But a lot of this actually starts with the engineering.

Linda Zhang

00:15:02 - 00:15:27 ()

So what we have in front of you here is our under-body skateboard. This has been purposefully built for our F150 Lightning to ensure that it can sustain the load of the weight of the vehicle with the added batteries. Um, this frame is an all-new frame with the strongest steel that we've ever used in any F150, and this battery that's in front of you is the biggest battery that we have used in any Ford vehicles.

Joe Biden

00:15:27 - 00:15:29 ()

What's the weight of the battery? Have any idea?

Linda Zhang

00:15:29 - 00:15:36 ()

The weight of the battery is, um, 1,800 pounds, is, uh, over 1,800 pounds.

Joe Biden

00:15:36 - 00:15:39 ()

Over hundred -- 800 pounds?

Linda Zhang

00:15:39 - 00:15:40 ()

1,800.

Joe Biden

00:15:40 - 00:15:42 ()

1,800 pounds. Did you hear that?

Linda Zhang

00:15:42 - 00:15:44 ()

So --

Joe Biden

00:15:44 - 00:15:46 ()

I got the center of gravity here.

Linda Zhang

00:15:46 - 00:16:19 ()

Yes, low center of gravity, which helps with the ride and handling. And this battery not only helps with the drive for the vehicle to ensure that our customers can drive, haul, and, uh, tow, but also, we've been able to leverage this battery to provide additional tools for our customers. So what you see here is actually a home, and what this battery's able to do is be a backup power generator in came -- in case of power outages with the home, sustaining the home for multiple days.

Linda Zhang

00:16:19 - 00:16:47 ()

Um, also, on the go, if, uh, our customers are looking for power, we've got pro power on board, which is able to help our customers power up a tailgate, power up a campsite, or work at a job site. Again, ensuring that they can get the job done. The other thing that we're very proud of here is that, um, this vehicle is built in America here, right here at the, uh, Rouge Electric Vehicle Factory.

Linda Zhang

00:16:47 - 00:16:59 ()

But not only that, a lot of our commodities are here as well. So this frame that I mentioned is down from Kentucky. It comes here from there. Our battery, um, the, um, it's out of Georgia and then --

Joe Biden

00:16:59 - 00:17:00 ()

I know.

Linda Zhang

00:17:00 - 00:17:02 ()

Assembled here as well.

Joe Biden

00:17:02 - 00:17:04 ()

And what we'll do with that one?

Linda Zhang

00:17:04 - 00:17:17 ()

And then even our motors, they're not only designed in-house, um, here at Ford but also produced just up the street at Van Dyke, uh, plant. So a lot of really great, uh, manufacturing here.

Joe Biden

00:17:17 - 00:17:20 ()

Have you had to change the tires?

Linda Zhang

00:17:20 - 00:17:33 ()

Yes. We did have to change the tires and the wheels for the weight of the battery. And the tires, um, we have several options, but one of them is providing lower resistance so that you can, um, uh, get better range.

Joe Biden

00:17:33 - 00:17:41 ()

Fascinating. I was down at that plant down in, uh, in Georgia.

Unidentified

00:17:41 - 00:17:41 ()

Yep.

Joe Biden

00:17:41 - 00:17:47 ()

And, uh, this battery doesn't look much smaller, any smaller than the one they're putting in the buses down there.

Linda Zhang

00:17:47 - 00:17:50 ()

It's a very large battery. It's basically two, two --

Joe Biden

00:17:50 - 00:17:54 ()

Yeah, I know. I -- I know it is. But it's amazing if you --

Linda Zhang

00:17:54 - 00:17:55 ()

If you see it. And, uh, you know, what we're trying to do also is they're going to have mostly every school bus in America will be electric because -- let's just take the methane out of the air and a whole range of other things. But it's impressive.

Joe Biden

00:17:55 - 00:18:07 ()

Unidentified

00:18:07 - 00:18:07 ()

Linda Zhang

00:18:07 - 00:18:07 ()

Joe Biden

00:18:07 - 00:18:08 ()

Impressive.

Linda Zhang

00:18:08 - 00:18:09 ()

Unidentified

00:18:09 - 00:18:09 ()

Thanks.

Joe Biden

00:18:09 - 00:18:10 ()

Linda Zhang

00:18:10 - 00:18:10 ()

So, Mr. President, we're going to take you --

Unidentified

00:18:10 - 00:18:13 ()

Joe Biden

00:18:13 - 00:18:13 ()

And one more question.

Linda Zhang

00:18:13 - 00:18:14 ()

Yeah, sure.

Joe Biden

00:18:14 - 00:18:16 ()

Have you had to increase the length of the frame?

Linda Zhang

00:18:16 - 00:18:18 ()

The length of the frame is about the same.

Joe Biden

00:18:18 - 00:18:19 ()

Same.

Linda Zhang

00:18:19 - 00:18:20 ()

The length of the vehicle is about the same.

Joe Biden

00:18:20 - 00:18:21 ()

And it's a 145 wheelbase, our most popular one with the crew cab. Super crew cab --

Linda Zhang

00:18:21 - 00:18:25 ()

Joe Biden

00:18:25 - 00:18:25 ()