Isn't
it time to give the Big 3's tax credits to Toyota?
Tuesday,
January 23, 2007
Give
the Prius some credit
In advance of the
President's State of the Union speech, Big 3 automakers
are using the Auto Show circuit to show Congress and the
President that they can be fuel efficient. Ford announced
20 flex fuel hybrids and a $2,000,000 hydrogen plug-in
hybrid. DaimlerChrysler showed off the most fuel
efficient, clean diesel heavy duty Ram pickup truck, and
GM debuted the Chevy
Volt concept at NAIAS.
Wow, I guess Detroit gets it, huh?
Well, why then are the Big 3 sitting on more than 150,000
tax credits available for hybrid
vehicles as Toyota's hybrid
tax credits expire because they sold too many hybrids?
Why do we punish Toyota's clean and fuel efficient success
and protect Detroit's complacency? Is this really how you
drive innovation? How about some good old American
competition?
As I blogged earlier today, it's time to put
tax incentives into the hands of the people rather
than the corporations. Give the people the money to afford
hybrid vehicles and other clean technologies and to reward
whoever makes the hybrids consumers want.
While I desperately want the Big 3 to succeed, it's time
for real world vehicles, not fancy concepts and $2 million
one-offs.
posted by Dahcredyns
at
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