General Motors (GM) CEO Mary Barra made a surprising statement at the New York Times DealBook Summit. She revealed that she personally spoke with U.S. President Joe Biden and told him that the real credit for the rise of electric vehicles (EVs) belongs to Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Speaking to CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin, Barra said:
“He was giving me credit, but I said, ‘Actually, a very large share of this goes to Elon and Tesla.’ You know me, Andrew. I don’t take credit for things that aren’t mine.”
The remark came during a discussion about Musk’s role in the EV revolution. Barra shared that Biden had praised her for GM’s EV progress, but she immediately pushed back and gave credit to Musk instead. This revelation comes at a time when the U.S. EV market is growing rapidly, with Tesla continuing to lead the charge.
Background: Musk’s Contribution to the EV Revolution
Elon Musk’s Tesla has been instrumental in bringing electric vehicles into the mainstream since the 2010s. Models like the Model 3 and Model Y have attracted millions of buyers to EVs. While GM is now heavily focused on electric vehicles, Barra’s statement signals a rare moment of industry acknowledgment and unity. However, some critics point out that GM previously took a competitive stance; for example, in 2021, Barra claimed GM would surpass Tesla in U.S. EV sales.
Social Media Reactions
The Teslarati post on X (formerly Twitter) has already garnered over 120,000 views. Many users praised Barra’s honesty, while others questioned the timing, asking why she didn’t make the statement publicly earlier. One user wrote: “If she told Biden that, why didn’t she say it out loud back then?” Meanwhile, Tesla fans are calling it a long-overdue recognition.
What Experts Are Saying
According to reports from Business Insider and others, Barra’s comments reflect the maturing of the EV industry, where companies are now more willing to recognize each other’s successes. Elon Musk has not yet commented on the statement, but his supporters are treating it as a major victory.
This moment is a positive sign for the future of electric vehicles, suggesting greater collaboration in the fight against carbon emissions. Could GM and Tesla work more closely together? The coming months may tell.
GM CEO Mary Barra said to Andrew Sorkin at the New York Times Dealbook Summit that she pulled President Biden aside and said Tesla CEO @elonmusk deserved the credit for EVs:
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) December 3, 2025
"He was crediting me, and I said, 'Actually, I think a lot of that credit goes to Elon and Tesla,'" Barra… pic.twitter.com/OHBTG1QfbJ
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