Elon Musk’s decision not to appear at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on the auto industry has sparked controversy among major U.S. automakers, with some executives arguing that the witness lineup is uneven and unfair.
In a letter dated Dec. 12, Ford CEO Jim Farley informed Sen. Ted Cruz through legal counsel that he has a scheduling conflict on Jan. 14, the date of the hearing. Farley also raised concerns that the hearing treats automakers inconsistently by inviting representatives at different executive levels.
The Commerce Committee announced in November that it had invited the CEOs of Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis. Tesla, however, was asked to send Lars Moravy, its vice president of vehicle engineering, rather than Musk himself.
“As previously discussed with your staff, Ford believes it is critical that any hearing follow Congress’s longstanding practice of equal treatment for similarly situated companies,” wrote Brian Smith, a lawyer at Covington & Burling representing Ford. He added that if Tesla is represented by a vice president, other automakers should be allowed to send witnesses of comparable rank.
Although the letter did not explicitly name Tesla or Musk, the implications were clear. Tesla did not respond to requests for comment, and Ford spokesperson Dave Tovar declined to comment.
Alongside Farley, the invited witnesses include GM CEO Mary Barra, Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa, and Tesla’s Moravy.
Sen. Cruz explained that Musk was not invited because his presence would distract from the hearing’s purpose. In an interview with POLITICO, Cruz said he believed Democrats would focus excessively on Musk rather than on broader issues such as vehicle affordability.
“If Elon were there, Democrats would turn it into a spectacle,” Cruz said. “My goal is to hold a serious discussion about auto affordability, not a three-hour session of attacks on Elon.”
Stellantis spokesperson Jodi Tinson declined to comment, while GM spokesperson Liz Winter said the company indicated its CEO would attend as long as all other invited CEOs also participate.
A source familiar with the hearing criticized Ford’s position, accusing the company of pushing for Musk’s testimony in order to shift the focus toward his role in the Department of Government Efficiency. The source also claimed Ford has been warning others that tariffs pose major challenges to its business.
Despite the disagreements, Cruz said he expects all invited witnesses to attend. “My expectation is that they will all be there,” he said.
Phoebe Keller, a spokesperson for the Commerce Committee, confirmed Thursday that Farley will testify and emphasized the committee’s anticipation of a meaningful discussion highlighting the resurgence of U.S. auto manufacturing.
Separately, Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) said his priority is reducing vehicle costs for consumers. He pointed to a provision he supported that allows tax deductions on auto loan interest and suggested expanding the benefit to leased vehicles.
“Most working Americans lease their cars,” Moreno said. “Extending the deduction to leases would make a real difference.”
