Missouri Lawmaker Urges Treasury Action to Halt US Tax Dollars Flowing Through Automakers to China

Rep. Jason Smith sends letter to Tesla CEO Elon Musk asking whether he has or is contemplating contracts with Chinese battery manufacturer.

A line of electric vehicles during the start of the production at Tesla's "Gigafactory" in Gruenheide, near Berlin, on March 22, 2022. Patrick Pleul/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Concerned that U.S. electric vehicle subsidies were improperly migrating to foreign entities, a senior Republican in Congress asked Tesla on Sept. 19 to describe its relationship with Chinese battery manufacturer CATL.

Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.), the chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, on Sept. 19 sent a letter (pdf) to Tesla CEO Elon Musk asking whether the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer has, or is contemplating having, contracts with CATL.