Hearings

US Automakers to Appear Before Senate Commerce Committee

January 14, 2026
10:00 AM

Chairman Cruz Announces January 14th Hearing on Auto Affordability

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene a full committee hearing titled “Pedal to the Policy: The Views of the American Auto Industry on the Upcoming Surface Transportation Reauthorization” on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 10:00 am EST. This hearing will examine how radical global warming regulations and mandated technologies have driven up the cost of vehicles for American consumers.

 

In 2000, the average new car in the United States sold for $20,356. By 2010, the price had modestly risen to $24,296. Ten years later, the average new vehicle transaction price had doubled and now exceeds $50,000. New mandated technologies and climate regulations, like start-stop technology, have contributed to the soaring vehicle costs. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act took important steps to effectively repeal two of the most egregious cases of government interference in the car market: the de facto electric vehicle mandate and the CAFE standards program.   

 

As Congress prepares for the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization, this hearing will review these causes of increased costs and how they impact affordability and choice in the automotive market.

 

Upon announcing the hearing, Sen. Cruz said:

“Americans have been clear that they are hyper-focused on affordability – and so is this committee. The average price of a car has more than doubled in the past decade, driven up by onerous government-mandated technologies and radical environmental regulations. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act took crucial steps to drive costs down with the repeal of the EV mandate and CAFE standards, but we must do more. This hearing will examine how government interference continues to make vehicles expensive and out of reach for American customers and how we can restore competition and choice.”

 

Invited Witnesses:

  • Ms. Mary Barra, Chair and Chief Executive Officer, General Motors

 

  • Mr. Antonio Filosa, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Stellantis

 

  • Mr. Lars Moravy, Vice President of Vehicle Engineering, Tesla

 

  • Mr. Jim Farley, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ford Motor Company

 

Details:

WHAT: Full Committee Hearing titled “Pedal to the Policy: The Views of the American Auto Industry on the Upcoming Surface Transportation Reauthorization”

DATE: Wednesday, January 14, 2026

TIME: 10:00 A.M. EST

LOCATION: Committee Hearing Room, Russell 253

LIVESTREAM: The hearing will stream live on the Committee web site and YouTube.

MEDIA INFO: Reporters wanting to attend the committee please contact your respective media gallery to RSVP.