Toyota fights Volt-favoring legislation

[Mr. Wyndham]

I am VERY suprised this hasn't made it to the boards, yet.

Volt Watch: Toyota opposes tax credit designed for Volt

Not content to let GM steal its hybrid thunder, the National Manager of Energy and Environmental Research for Toyota Motor North America Robert Wimmer told the Senate Energy and National Resources committee today that it should not pass new legislation that will give tax breaks to the Chevrolet Volt. The proposed legislation would give special tax credits to plug-in hybrids with batteries that hold at least six kilowatt-hours of electricity. The tax credits could reach as much as $7500 for light-duty vehicles. The Volt stores approximately 16 kilowatt-hours of electricity in its lithium-ion battery pack.

Wimmer said the legislation "redefines plug-in electric vehicles to seemingly eliminate consumer tax credits for all but one plug-in vehicle design."

"Toyota believes this approach is counterproductive," said Wimmer in a statement before the committee. "It will discourage manufacturers from developing and consumers from purchasing 'blended' plug-ins that are affordable to the greatest number of consumers."

Wimmer did not mention the Volt by name, but it is the most high-profile vehicle in the category, and a direct competitor to Toyota's new plug-in Prius. The source of Toyota's objection is likely the fact that the current Prius only stores 1.3 kilowatt-hours of electricity. Specifications for the new plug-in Prius have not yet been released, but given Toyota's vehement objection to this legislation, it's probable that the new Prius does not meet the six kilowatt-hour requirement.

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

It is worth noting, however, that according to the U.S. Department of Energy, the Toyota Prius received the largest tax rebate of any hybrid car in America from the program's inauguration in late 2005 until enough were sold to rescind its qualification in late 2007. Additionally, there are conflicting reports about monetary support Toyota may have received from the government of Japan to develop the Prius in the first place. Given this, it seems suspicious that Toyota had no objection to receiving the maximum tax credits for its Prius, but opposes a bill that would likely favor the Chevrolet Volt, one which the Prius may not qualify for. The intent of the legislation would appear to be to encourage the development of hybrids and pure-electric cars with greater ranges by giving consumers large tax credits for buying them, much the same way past legislation benefited those who bought previous models of hybrids, such as the Prius.

What do you think? Is the proposed legislation unfairly written to benefit GM? Or is Toyota upset about the possibility of losing the tax rebates that helped make the Prius popular with auto buyers? Should the government stop meddling with the hybrid market? Or should Toyota focus its energy on making a car that meets the requirements instead of complaining about them?

http://wot.motortrend.com/6298041/in...olt/index.html

In this instance...I actually hope the congress is effected enough by the green bug, that this bill goes through without a hitch...Screw you, Toyota!

sounds a bit like the CAFE deal, but reversed...Toyota can meet CAFE it a little easier than GM...but here...GM can meet this standard whereas Toyota can't. Interesting....

[Jak]

Okey, explaine to me why freaking toyota's sticking their nose where it don't belong?? And who the H does toyota think they are telling us what we can an cannot do? My message to toyota? Screw off!:flag2:

[headpunter]

toyota needs to stop whinging....

[nester7929]

Toyota's just pissed because their hybrid isn't as good as ours.

[JaysonAych]

Amongst what was mentioned in the article, Toyota's North American sales have been benefiting from Japan's currency manipulation for years. Considering Japan's unwillingness to stop tilting the playing field, I don't see anything wrong with the American government doing something to encourage American buyers to buy an American product.

Besides...if they want to do something about it, they can engineer a Prius with a 6-kilowatt storage capacity. Their customers can reap the tax break, they can reap the sales, and it'll all be gravy.

[Angrybird 12]

It's no different than when the foreign car makers lobbied to make importing cars easier and cheaper by giving them tax breaks in the 70's when the first gas crisis hit. Then too the Japanese Government was helping to pay for the development of japanese cars, and they started selling those Toyotas, Datsuns and Hondas over here for less than they could sell them in their own country, finally (but too late) we caught on and stopped them form selling for less than their home market, but they were still subsidized by the Japanese government making their cars still cheaper than the equvilent American car. the American car comepanies had to cut corners in order to compete, and that is when quality suffered, the Japanese cars got the reputation for higher quality, not in the 70's (those cars were mostly junk) but in the 80's When American Quality hit it's low point. By that time the Japanese car makers were swimming in our money and putting more money into reserch and development, while the American companies were struggleing...

The Japanese have always played dirty when it comes to business (not just the car business) they have a do anything it takes to win attitude..

Sorry about the rant, but this is just another example of their practices that I have observed over the last 40 years.. THAT is one reason I will NEVER own a Japanese Corporation's Car or truck.

[The_Blur]

It is abundantly clear that Toyota wants to keep GM from benefitting from a green image. Such an image would hurt Toyota's hippie appeal, derived from Prius-driving liberals in California. If GM doesn't get a tax credit, there's not much business sense in constructing the Volt because it won't sell in Cobalt numbers with a $40k price tag and low production.

The Japanese are very aggressive when it comes to business. I hope that Congress has the loyalty to keep as much of the car industry at home as legislation will allow.

[lalometalik]

thanks for posting
let the hating begin

[The_Blur]

Originally Posted by lalometalik

thanks for posting
let the hating begin

Hold on. I have to go to the store to get some Haterade.

[lalometalik]

Originally Posted by The_Blur

Hold on. I have to go to the store to get some Haterade.

HAHAHAHAHA

[Oracle]

I think this all very well thought out by legislation. a plug in hybrid doesnt get to far with <6 Kw hours, and its set for a level that is acheivable by competition. i mean come on, if GM can get more than x2.5 the requirement of the bill surely the "green king" can create something half as efficient as a "lowly" gm product. toyota is a joke, a very big one.

[GTAHVIT]

I HATE TOYOTA.

YES I DO.

I HATE TOYOTA.

HOW BOUT YOU?



high school flash back.....

[FenwickHockey65]

Oh boo hoo toyota. Yeah, sucks that the plug-in prius's electric-only range is a measly 8 miles.







^^^ Better than anything crapyota can pull out of its toilet of a design department.

SUCK IT, PRIUS.

[Jak]

Sorry, your talking about our congress right?? It's the loyalty part that cracked me up.
No, but seriously, I hope they do do the right thing, god knows this country needs it.

Originally Posted by The_Blur

The Japanese are very aggressive when it comes to business. I hope that Congress has the loyalty to keep as much of the car industry at home as legislation will allow.