Volt Birth Watch 89: Toyota: Where's OUR G.D. Tax Break?

by Robert Farago

September 16th, 2008 8:27 PM

volt birth watch 89 toyota where s our g d tax break

Toyota is not a happy camper. “On the same day the Chevrolet Volt was unveiled in Detroit, a Toyota executive told a congressional committee that lawmakers would be wrong to enact tax credits that benefit only one plug-in hybrid design,” Automotive News [sub] reports. The legislation that’s pissing off the world’s largest automaker would offer a $7500 federal tax credit for any hybrid with a battery pack rated at six kilowatt-hours of electricity or more. That would be the Chevrolet Volt. And only the Chevrolet Volt. Speaking to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, ToMoCo’s national manager of energy and environmental research said pending legislation “redefines plug-in electric vehicles to seemingly eliminate consumer tax credits for all but one plug-in vehicle design.” That would be the Chevrolet Volt. And only the Chevrolet Volt. “We believe consumer incentives should encourage all plug-in designs,” Robert Wimmer railed. “And allow the consumer market to select winners, not legislation.” Note to GM: you do NOT want to piss-off Toyota. If the gloves come off, you’re so dead. I mean, sooner rather than later.

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Ppellico on Sep 17, 2008

Again, please! Why are we all fighting over how much of a tax break any of these techs should get? The whole tax break philosophy is dead ass wrong. We should be yelling about any breaks at all. The whole idea is to let the consumer buy a car that promises less taxation at the pump. That is supposed to be the incentive...not an additional push by the government to help stear the decision. The incentive for the mfr is to build a better car that the consumer will decide is worth the purchase...NOT the government. This crowd is being misdirected with the entire story.

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Quasimondo on Sep 17, 2008
Why don’t we give tax breaks to anybody that will sell their SUV? Let’s give a tax break to anybody who moves within 5 miles of their job? Let’s give a tax break to anybody that buys a car with a 55 MPH limiter? Let’s give a tax break to anybody who lives in Manhatten! They don’t even have cars! Let’s give a tax break to every bottle of dry red wine! (just slipped this porky one in like they do in congress). I have a better suggestion. Since we're all about forcing people to use less gas, I say we tie gasoline purchases in with those RFID driver's licenses. Ration out a monthly limit that they can use any way they want. Nobody sees extra taxes, people use less gas, it's a win-win for everybody!

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Whatdoiknow1 on Sep 17, 2008
How much does Japan pay for our US armed services to protect their country. Have you had a look at the Japanese Self Defense Forces lately? They have grown rather strong ans safisticated in recent times. The issue is how much is the USA paying Japan to NOT become a world military power (Nuclear included)again. The USA does what is in its best interest. We like being an important player in that region of the world so that is why we "offer" up our "protection" services. It allows us to keep OUR fleet in their (China, Japan, and Korea's ) waters.

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Raskolnikov on Sep 17, 2008
Robert Farago : September 17th, 2008 at 8:56 am taxman100: They provide far more to the public good than Toyota does. Not to mention, it is our auto industry we should want to preserve, not someone else’s. Tell that to Detroit, who are busy building their new cars in Mexico, Korea, etc. And while you’re at it, have a look at the domestic content sticker on ALL of Motown’s products. THEN tell me I have a good reason to support on a Big 2.8 bailout on patriotic grounds. Peter DeLorenzo has said numerous times that 1 of 14 jobs in the United States is directly or indirectly dependent on the domestic automobile industry. Assuming this is true, then the dissolution of this industry is indeed scary and would have devastating economic consequences. Are they too big to fail? I would say "yes," but that doesn't necessitate a gargantuan loan from our government, which is already broke and cannot afford to make more committments (AIG, Fannie Freddie) when it can't fund CURRENT committments (Social Security/ Medicare)!!!! So what is the solution? Sit back and hope its not too late for these guys to compete successfully? I don't know. Another thing, our domestic manufacturers are also GLOBAL corporations with facilities all over the world. Personally, I'm fine with buying an "American" car assembled in Canada with an engine sourced from Germany and a transmission sourced from Japan.

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