Suppliers Call For Increased Gas Tax To Spur Hybrid Sales

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Should the government tax gas up to as much as $8/gallon? A growing number of auto executives think so and are urging government action. (Source: The Energy Collective) CEO at leading parts supplier: "Energy independence...ultimately means that fuel has to be more expensive"

It's no secret that when gas prices dropped early in the year and with the recession in full swing, hybrid sales saw their first drop in years. Faced with tough new fuel economy restrictions, auto executives had come up with all sorts of unusual suggestions -- such as cutting crash testing -- but now had to puzzle over a new dilemma; what if consumers don't want the higher-priced electric vehicles that they plan to start flooding the market with in less that a year?

At a special Reuters summit in Detroit, numerous auto industry executives are cited as suggesting that the government raise taxes on gasoline substantially to spur the adoption of fuel efficient vehicles. States Tim Leuliette, chief executive of privately held parts supplier Dura Automotive, "In the United States, we're afraid to touch the fuel price. We've got to continue to raise taxes in the United States so that, by the end of the next decade, gas is about $8 a gallon in today's terms."

http://www.dailytech.com/Auto+Execs+...ticle16727.htm

[PA Dweller]

Wow thats a total FAIL right there. Sorry to get all preachy but what makes anyone think they have the right to dictate what people drive by artificially raising fuel prices? This is just wrong if they actually go through with it.

[maxim5928]

I agree we all need to drive more fuel efficient cars, but letting the feds collect more tax from us to squander and/or steal, is not the way.

[Uzzy]

Hey suppliers, STFU.

[Mustapha Mond]

The state intrudes enough in all our lives already. They cannot be permitted to dictate via tax what kind of vehicles people drive. Moreover such a tax would hurt the poor the most and that isn't fair or ethical.
-Elliott

[Hitman1970]

So the government forces the manufacturers to make the types of vehicles that people do not want and then tax (force) the people into a situation where the undesirable vehicles becomes the only choice? That gets a big GFY, USG from me.

[PhishPhood]

Originally Posted by PA Dweller

Wow thats a total FAIL right there. Sorry to get all preachy but what makes anyone think they have the right to dictate what people drive by artificially raising fuel prices? This is just wrong if they actually go through with it.

50% of the posters herein at GMI have been bucking for this very idea for over 5 yrs. This is what they do in Europe and it works perfectly. CAFE is finished and you can drive whatever you want. Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!

This is the solution that much of the Me-Only's want. Why? Because with a tax like this You-Yourself can choose what to buy, what to drive and how much gas you want to use. With a tax like this no one can say squat to you if you want to drive to California in an Escalade at 16 mpg. Hey, it's your money.

This dramatically lowers fuel usage in the country for 90+% of the population. BINGO!!!! Problem solved. Move on to the next issue.

[PhishPhood]

BTW, when this comes about - and it will ( see below ) - don't blame the greenies or the socialists or the CAFE-supporters. Remember this thread and remember that it's the business interests that want the jacked-up fuel tax.

Oh, BTW, who else is out in support of this? Mulally of Ford and Wagoner/Henderson of GM both made speeches two years ago at the Auto Symposium espousing exactly this.

It's the business interests that want it. If the business interests want it and the greenies are all over lower fuel usage and the Feds and States see a river of gold coming....does anyone think that it won't happen?

[Uzzy]

Originally Posted by PhishPhood

50% of the posters herein at GMI have been bucking for this very idea for over 5 yrs. This is what they do in Europe and it works perfectly. CAFE is finished and you can drive whatever you want. Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!

This is the solution that much of the Me-Only's want. Why? Because with a tax like this You-Yourself can choose what to buy, what to drive and how much gas you want to use. With a tax like this no one can say squat to you if you want to drive to California in an Escalade at 16 mpg. Hey, it's your money.

This dramatically lowers fuel usage in the country for 90+% of the population. BINGO!!!! Problem solved. Move on to the next issue.

In Europe they're also a lot closer together, they have better mass transit systems and people commutes are shorter. The way people live is drastically different than here. You can't compare the two and the poeple's personal transportation. In North America we've become much more accustomed to being more spread out because we can.

[DonRobbie]

The tax going up a bit is not a bad idea (we aren't covering the highway fund now). Raising it to $8 a gallon is ridiculous though.

[PA Dweller]

Originally Posted by PhishPhood

50% of the posters herein at GMI have been bucking for this very idea for over 5 yrs. This is what they do in Europe and it works perfectly. CAFE is finished and you can drive whatever you want. Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!

This is the solution that much of the Me-Only's want. Why? Because with a tax like this You-Yourself can choose what to buy, what to drive and how much gas you want to use. With a tax like this no one can say squat to you if you want to drive to California in an Escalade at 16 mpg. Hey, it's your money.

This dramatically lowers fuel usage in the country for 90+% of the population. BINGO!!!! Problem solved. Move on to the next issue.

I didn't really think it was 50% of the members but regardless I disagreed with this idea since I started posting here. They do it in Europe and do you see what the majority of them drive? Little underpowered golf carts, I do not want to be forced to drive something the size of a Ford Fiesta with barely 120 HP. If this law goes through I will be forced to drive such a car because anything larger will be out of my reach financially. Right now I have my choice of driving what I want, if I pleased I have the money to go out and buy something with a V8 and afford the gas for it. I don't give a damn if the person driving next to me finds it offensive, if they have anything to say I would give them the one finger salute.

You want a good solution? Find a way to have your cake and eat it too. With the technologies being developed why can't larger vehicles get much improved fuel economy without making sacrifices to power? Who says it can't be done? Direct Injection, AFM, Two Mode Hybrids, BAS, E-Flex, Diesels, etc, etc, etc. Problem solved, no need to enact such a socialist law.

Edit: Did you consider people like myself that live in rural areas? You need to drive to survive up here and such a law would hurt people. Add on top of that all the AWD/4WD vehicles people drive here to get through the snow and we're punished further. FAIL FAIL FAIL

[OLDSCHOOLGMFAN]

This is sick garbage, period!

[Suziebob]

Originally Posted by PA Dweller

I didn't really think it was 50% of the members but regardless I disagreed with this idea since I started posting here. They do it in Europe and do you see what the majority of them drive? Little underpowered golf carts, I do not want to be forced to drive something the size of a Ford Fiesta with barely 120 HP. If this law goes through I will be forced to drive such a car because anything larger will be out of my reach financially. Right now I have my choice of driving what I want, if I pleased I have the money to go out and buy something with a V8 and afford the gas for it. I don't give a damn if the person driving next to me finds it offensive, if they have anything to say I would give them the one finger salute.

You want a good solution? Find a way to have your cake and eat it too. With the technologies being developed why can't larger vehicles get much improved fuel economy without making sacrifices to power? Who says it can't be done? Direct Injection, AFM, Two Mode Hybrids, BAS, E-Flex, Diesels, etc, etc, etc. Problem solved, no need to enact such a socialist law.

Edit: Did you consider people like myself that live in rural areas? You need to drive to survive up here and such a law would hurt people. Add on top of that all the AWD/4WD vehicles people drive here to get through the snow and we're punished further. FAIL FAIL FAIL

Certain elements of the American power structure would love to force people from rural areas (like where I live) to the inner city for population control measures.

[PA Dweller]

Originally Posted by Suziebob

Certain elements of the American power structure would love to force people from rural areas (like where I live) to the inner city for population control measures.

Indeed, like the people dreaming up this law. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and by time I was 20 the place was going to hell in a handbag. Even now most of my friends have plans of leaving that pit. No amount of taxes can get me to move back, or to any other city.

[Suziebob]

Originally Posted by PA Dweller

Indeed, like the people dreaming up this law. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and by time I was 20 the place was going to hell in a handbag. Even now most of my friends have plans of leaving that pit. No amount of socialist tax can get me to move back.

It's not the "socialists," (who are conservative by any other nation's standards,) but rather elements of the fringe corporatist right who rely on cheap, non-union labor.