Trump's stunning blow to EV industry as newly-inaugurated president says he backs gas

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America's war on gas cars is over, Donald Trump announced today. 

Using his inaugural address, the President said rules that would force Americans to buy electric vehicles would be stopped. 

'With my actions today, we will end the Green New Deal and we will revoke the electric vehicle mandate, saving our auto industry and keeping my sacred pledge to my great American auto workers,' Trump said to rounds of applause. 

'In other words, you'll be able to buy the car of your choice. 

'We will build automobiles in America again at a rate that nobody could have dreamt possible just a few years ago.' 

On X, Ashley HInson, Republican representative for Iowa, tweeted: 'Goodbyte electric vehicle mandate! 

'The American auto industry will come back to life under Trump& families will be able to buy whatever type of car works best for them!'

Joe Biden had pledged to ban EVs by 2032. 

Trump cuts a red tape while speaking about deregulation at the White House in December 2017. Experts and those close to him say another presidency will see continued deregulation

Since assuming the Oval Office, President Biden himself has taken steps to unwind some of the regulatory changes made during Trump's term

Carmakers will eventually stop making full gas-powered successors to the beloved muscle cars of the 1960s and 1970s (Pictured: Steve McQueen in Bullitt) - but Trump could change rules to keep gas cars in production longer

Trump's plan to end the push to EVs is no surprise. His administration was already expected to ease EV mandates and clamp down on environmental, social and governance (ESG) investments.

Those tend to see money going into issues aimed at helping tackle climate change and helping minority groups.

During the campaign, a report published by Reuters, experts and his allies are preparing and pitching rewrites that would reduce the power of various regulators.

Trump team have said the Biden administration was responsible for a 'massive push to increase burdensome regulations, especially on our energy and auto industries.'

Since Biden took office, he has overseen the introduction of various regulations designed to catalyze the uptake of electric vehicles.

Notably, in March the Environmental Protection Agency introduced a rule that the majority of new passenger cars and light trucks sold in the US need to be electric or hybrids by 2032.

In the final months of his first presidency, Trump pushed to ban retirement plans from considering ESG when making investments.

Then in 2022, President Biden's administration reversed restrictions imposed under Trump - and the Labor Department announced a rule ordering government agencies to assess the impact of pension investments on the climate.

A source close to Trump has said if he makes it back into the White House he will be 'sure' to 'go after all of this climate change stuff'

At least eight states are planning to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars in the next decade - and others are considering joining them

Meanwhile, it emerged last year that at least eight states are planning to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars in the next decade - and others are considering joining them. 

Only zero-emission vehicles can be sold in participating states beginning from the 2035 model year, according to the Advanced Clean Cars II legislation. 

The rule, which was first adopted by California, means that automakers and dealerships would be banned from selling new gas cars in these states from that point onwards. 

Americans will not be forced to take their gas-powered cars off the road, however, and will still be able to buy used and secondhand gas vehicles.

These states have gone further than the latest federal legislation announced last week, where the Biden administration released new rules to gradually phase out gas cars by 2032.