Tax credits for some hybrid cars halved

Environmentally concerned car buyers will see some federal tax breaks for energy efficient hybrids start shrinking this fall.

Toyota Motor Corp. has hit the production limit — 60,000 — on vehicles eligible for a special tax credit designed to encourage more buyers to choose gas-electric hybrids.

Spokeswoman Martha Voss said Thursday that the automaker sold its 60,000th such vehicle in May.

Read Article

mkk21 - 7/21/2006 3:21:24 PM

+1 Boost

Is it me or does Plano04 seem to have it in for Toyota. A lot of his posts and article submissions seem to be about every little thing wrong with Toyota. True Toyota has been dealing with a lot of problems lately, but that is to be expected with the huge growth spurt the company has been experiencing. The recalls have doubled but are still less than half the amount of their domestic counterparts. GM may have the most amount of vehicles getting 30+ mpg but only because they have like 80 different models. Percentage wise I would say Honda or Toyota would have the most fuel efficient vehicles.

I'm glad the Asian manufacturers are succeeding. I can remember a time where these domestic auto manufacturers were so arrogant thinking nothing could go wrong with them. I'm glad their struggling now maybe it'll make them a bit more humbler. I don't know if its in their culture but it appeared to me that the Asian's were always humble and still are. Even now with all their success they don't boast and act as arrogant as the domestics manufacturers.

chewy - 7/21/2006 4:09:26 PM

+1 Boost

I sure hope that the LexusRX400h/Toyota cousin and Ford Escape hybrid DON'T get any tax credits because they don't get milage any better than some regular cars. They get WORSE milage than the VW TDI diesels and those cars DON'T get any tax credits. Does any one know if those two hybrids get tax crtedits? If they do, than the EPA is definately corrupt.

00JT - 7/23/2006 10:04:25 PM

+1 Boost

Chewy,

The Highlander hybrid did get some kind of tax rebate, it wasn't very large, and I don't think they offer it anymore. Thats why sales of the hybrid SUV's were good at first, but have slowed down quite a bit now. VW TDI diesels may be more fuel efficient, but hybrids are not all about fuel efficiency. They are also about the amount of CO2 they release, which is very little. Up to 80% less than a normal petrol car.