Toyota wants in on Volt's tax breaks - feels threatened?

[Savage_Messiah]

http://blogs.automobilemag.com/62836...aks/index.html

While GM celebrated its centennial today, Toyota was trying to crash its party on Capitol Hill, arguing to lawmakers that the 2011 Chevrolet Volt should not receive special tax consideration.

A tax package currently making its way through the Senate would provide a $7,500 rebate on plug-in hybrids with batteries rated at 6-kilowatts or more. Toyota’s Robert Wimmer said this requirement “redefines plug-in electric vehicles to seemingly eliminate consumer tax credits for all but one plug-in vehicle design.”

Toyota thinks qualifications should be relaxed to include what it calls “blended” plug-in hybrids, with batteries rated at 1.2-2.0-kilowatts. The Volt will have batteries rated at 16-kilowatts and offer an all-electric range of 40 miles. Toyota’s plug-in Prius, still in early testing, will aim for a range of about 10 miles before tapping into its gasoline engine. Of course, the better performing Volt will cost considerably more, and Toyota wants it to stay that way.

“We believe consumer incentives should encourage all plug-in designs and allow the consumer market to select winners, not legislation,” Wimmer said.

[BonzoHansen]

There should be no breaks.

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

There should be no breaks.

Why not?

[PolarBear]

I think there should be, especially if it means an american company gets the rebate. A lot of the hybrids are already overpriced. Plus with the economy going south will prompt people to buy a car that you get a rebate on

[BonzoHansen]

Originally Posted by Frosty

Why not?

Why? $4@gallon gas is not enough incentive? I heard the GM guy say the volt knocks the avarage $@mile from like $0.15 to like $0.02.

I hate all tax breaks like this. Besides, we will need all that tax money to build infrastrucutre to handle all these plug ins. Our current grid can't cope.

[LTb1ow]

More three mile islands ... woot

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

Why? $4@gallon gas is not enough incentive? I heard the GM guy say the volt knocks the avarage $@mile from like $0.15 to like $0.02.

I hate all tax breaks like this. Besides, we will need all that tax money to build infrastrucutre to handle all these plug ins. Our current grid can't cope.

Just so I understand this correctly. Who is getting the tax break? The consumer?

[BonzoHansen]

that is my understanding...that makes them buy more cars...so in essence the car makers.

[TNTramair]

sounds to me like they just want it to be fair....if the Volt gets a tax break, so should the toyota. whats good for the goose should be good for the gander. Prius sales are at an all time high so i dont think they feel threatened. they just want it to be fair game to the customer when they're choosing between the 2.

[Iroc-z86]

Originally Posted by scooter

I think there should be, especially if it means an american company gets the rebate. A lot of the hybrids are already overpriced. Plus with the economy going south will prompt people to buy a car that you get a rebate on

i would have to agree, seeing as how our country needs to start helping the ones that are based in it instead of worrying so so much about foreign affairs...now im not saying we should say screw toyota, but it would be nice to get OUR economy back on track and give jobs back to americans.

[BonzoHansen]

Toyota is move Prius production to the US. What about those US workers?

[nj85z28]

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

Toyota is move Prius production to the US. What about those US workers?

Its all about where the money goes in the end. Looking at the short term, its nice that toyota is hiring americans to build their cars here. but the profits from each of those cars is going to a foreign country

[BigAls87Z28]

Japanese Goverment, even with thier "recession" for years helped fund the hybrid development for Toyota and Honda.
The US shuns the Big 3 as GM has had to do the development for the Volt's battery system all to themselves with no Goverment help.
Toyota should get nothing. 10 mile range? Uh yeah, real good, and then the engine runs the car, not a generator.
The "plug in" Prius is a semi-plug in. You plug in to charge the batteries, but the gas engine still opperates like a normal gas engine to drive the wheels.
Volt will use the engine to power electric motors.
Two VERY different cars. They should get **** for tax breaks.

[PolarBear]

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

Toyota is move Prius production to the US. What about those US workers?

That money still leaves the US to a foreign entity. Yes Workers get paid but the parts are still made overseas. They only reason they did that was to get around import taxes.

[BonzoHansen]

I actually agree for the very reasons Al listed. But with a topic like this there are so many sides/angles to consider, so I played a bit of devil's advocate. Now back to the sites with old guys to rile them up about the AIG bailout....

[BigAls87Z28]

House passed the bill that would mandate an alternative fuel pump at every station, Volt could get up to a 5k tax credit.

[CJDZ24_Z28]

***** Japanese cars.... GM should get all the breaks in the world

[Mark B]

Anything that keeps our money from leaving the US and encourages americans to use less energy cant be bad in my book.

[Slow Z]

Originally Posted by Mark B

Anything that keeps our money from leaving the US and encourages americans to use less energy cant be bad in my book.

I really don't understand this logic. A lot of "import" cars and their parts are built here by Americans. A lot of "domestic" cars and a huge majority of their parts are built in Mexico and Canada, In this global economy do you really think your money going to an international company that is American based like GM really makes a difference in anything whatsoever? Neither company caters specifically to you, The American. they just care about your money and the money of every other country they sell their cars in.

Regardless of what you buy you are putting money into American pockets... Big deal if a cut of it goes to a non American company - So long as they continue to build cars here and provide a quality car for an affordable price.

[Mark B]

Originally Posted by Mark B

encourages americans to use less energy cant be bad in my book.

Cant argue with that point though. Our energy habbits have us sending billions of dollars each year to foreign countries.

[CJDZ24_Z28]

Originally Posted by Slow Z

I really don't understand this logic. A lot of "import" cars and their parts are built here by Americans. A lot of "domestic" cars and a huge majority of their parts are built in Mexico and Canada, In this global economy do you really think your money going to an international company that is American based like GM really makes a difference in anything whatsoever? Neither company caters specifically to you, The American. they just care about your money and the money of every other country they sell their cars in.

Regardless of what you buy you are putting money into American pockets... Big deal if a cut of it goes to a non American company - So long as they continue to build cars here and provide a quality car for an affordable price.

That isn't true. If you buy a Import car, some of it or parts were manufactured in the US. A american worker may of made or worked on that part but where does the majority of that money go? To the corporation and Nissan,toyota,hyndai aren't a american based corporation.

[Slow Z]

so giving a foreign company some of your money that puts food on the table of thousands upon thousands of American workers is still a bad thing? Explain to me how you or your typical American benefits from buying a "domestic" car that isn't even built in America over an "import" car that is? Do you feel better giving your money to a handful of billionaire American executives rather than a handful of Japanese ones? They both use the money the exact same way: to build more crap for you to buy.

[Mark B]

Just because that new toyota you bought says built in america... doesnt mean it was made here. What it should really say is assembled in america. The motor, transmission and all other major components are built overseas and they use a combination of robots and american workers to put the parts together into a car. Saves them the extra tax of importing a car and they get to say "made in america." The majority of the man/hours to make the car are used in forigen countries and all of the R/D costs are spent outside of our boarders too.

Atleast that is how I understand it. If im wrong, please inform me.

[NJSPEEDER]

Originally Posted by scooter

That money still leaves the US to a foreign entity. Yes Workers get paid but the parts are still made overseas. They only reason they did that was to get around import taxes.

Most "American" cars and parts are not built in the US either, so what's the difference?