| A hybrid car tax break is still available - although not | | | | through their 60,000 quota in no time flat, leaving the |
| for long. One of the big incentives to buying a hybrid | | | | remaining buyers federal tax credit-less. But then again, |
| car used to be the "Federal Tax Credit" that rewards | | | | the Toyota Prius gets so much better gas mileage |
| you for your 'green efforts.' The reason why the | | | | than most of Ford's that Ford's buyers don't stand to |
| Federal government suddenly became so generous | | | | get anywhere near the max $3400 credit anyway. |
| back in 2006 is because of the higher prices that | | | | The hybrid car tax credit system is likely to change |
| buyers were faced with. This meant that far fewer | | | | again in the not-too-distant future, though. Hopefully, it |
| cars would be sold. | | | | will cover everyone again until everyone is driving one. |
| And since the U.S. hybrid car tax break program was | | | | But whatever happens with federal help for |
| started by the Federal government to begin with, they | | | | consumers, let's do our part and get a high-mileage car |
| have an obligation to the American public, right? But | | | | anyway. It will help us escape the choke-hold that the |
| don't expect any love coming your way with the new | | | | middle east has on our economy! |
| administration... The program is set to go belly-up in | | | | In the list below, notice how Toyota and Honda are |
| April 2010. | | | | conspicuously absent: Fords are still eligible, but the |
| Our Japanese friends out-engineered us shortly after | | | | credits will be cut in half from amounts listed below |
| President Clinton commissioned the program back in | | | | starting April 1, 2009. In October 2009, the credits will |
| 1993. Japan's total domination of the technology | | | | be cut in half again, and will completely phase out on |
| resulted in the complete withdrawal of U.S. auto | | | | April 1, 2010. |
| manufacturers from the program by 2001. Because by | | | | Make Model Tax Credit |
| this time, the Toyota Prius was everywhere, with | | | | Audi Q7 TDI (Clean Diesel) $1150 |
| Honda not far behind. | | | | BMW 335d (Clean Diesel) $900 |
| Where was the U.S? Ford and a couple other Detroit | | | | BMW X5 xDrive35d (Clean Diesel) $1800 |
| automakers were quietly making deals with Toyota to | | | | Chevrolet Malibu $1300 |
| license their technology. It's no secret that the U.S. has | | | | Chevrolet Silverado $2200 |
| been playing "catch up" to Japan in nearly all | | | | Chevrolet Tahoe $2200 |
| automotive technologies for many years. And hybrid | | | | Ford Escape (2WD) $3000 |
| technology is definitely no exception. | | | | Ford Escape (4WD) $2200 |
| Anyway, the Federal tax incentive program used to | | | | Ford Fusion $3400 |
| be a pretty good deal, and it's written to reward those | | | | GMC Sierra $2200 |
| good folks who elect to go for the really "good" | | | | GMC Yukon $2200 |
| hybrids. That is, the cars that substantially improve on | | | | Lexus GS 450h $1550 |
| their gasoline-only counterparts. The bigger the gas | | | | Lexus LS 600hL $450 |
| savings, the bigger the tax credit. | | | | Lexus RX 400h $2200 |
| Here's how it used to work: | | | | Maxda Tribute (2wd) $3000 |
| Every person who bought a hybrid vehicle after JAN | | | | Maxda Tribute (4wd) $2200 |
| 1st, 2006 is eligible for a tax credit up to a max of | | | | Mercedes GL 320 Bluetec $1800 |
| $3400, based on how the particular vehicle that he | | | | (Clean Diesel) |
| bought compares to the average car of its class and | | | | Mercedes R320 Bluetec $1550 |
| weight from 2002. Specifically, buyers will receive a | | | | (Clean Diesel) |
| $400 tax credit for every 25% improvement in | | | | Mercedes ML 320 Bluetec $900 |
| efficiency. | | | | (Clean Diesel) |
| In addition, you may be credited more money (to a | | | | Meredes S400 $1150 |
| max of $3400) based on how much fuel the | | | | Mercury Mariner (2WD) $3000 |
| government anticipates you will save based on the | | | | Mercury Mariner (4WD) $2200 |
| size and weight of the car. | | | | Mercury Milan $3400 |
| But, there was a catch: | | | | Nissan Altima $2350 |
| This credit was given to only the first 60,000 vehicles | | | | Saturn Aura Green Line $1300 |
| sold by each different manufacturer. Some--like Ford, | | | | Volkswagon Jetta TDI (Clean Diesel) $1300 |
| for instance, didn't even plan on making 60,000 | | | | Volkswagon Touareg TDI (Clean Diesel) $1150 |
| hybrid-electric cars through half of 2007. So each and | | | | So the above hybrid car tax breaks won't last long. |
| every person who bought a Ford would get the credit. | | | | Get yours now! |
| Toyota, however, was a whole other story: They blew | | | | |