For a century carmakers built the cars and trucks their customers wanted. That’s changing. Increasingly they’re building cars and trucks the government wants their customers to have — and that means electric vehicles (EVs).
CNN reports that China, France, Great Britain, India, Norway and Germany are considering banning the future production and sale of gasoline and diesel-powered engines.
Norway wants all its cars to be zero emissions by 2025. India wants all car and truck sales to be electric vehicles by 2030. France hopes to achieve that goal by 2040 and Great Britain by 2050.
Those are ambitious goals, considering only 750,000 electric vehicles were sold worldwide in 2016.
Eight other countries — Japan, Korea, Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, Portugal, Ireland and Spain — are only setting EV sales goals. In addition, 10 states want an EV sales target by 2025.
President Barack Obama also tried to push more electric vehicle sales. How’s that working out?
Automakers sold 1.93 million vehicles in the U.S. during October — one-third of them were cars and two-thirds trucks and SUVs.
Of that number, Chevrolet sold 2,710 of its all-electric Bolt. Nissan sold a whopping 213 of its all-electric Leaf. And Tesla sold an estimated 1,120 of its Model S, according to the website Inside EVs.
Normally, a manufacturer would eliminate such a poor-selling product. What gives?
Government mandates and taxpayer dollars, that’s what.
While Washington hasn’t banned gas and diesel-powered cars and trucks — yet — it is forcing manufacturers to make EVs and subsidizing consumers who buy them.
The corporate average fuel economy standard, or CAFE, is a 1975 law that requires each automaker’s lineup of cars, light trucks and SUVs to meet a government-designated fuel economy goal.
The Obama administration raised the standard to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025.
The problem automakers face is that consumers want SUVs and trucks — especially when gasoline prices are low — which fall short of the CAFE standards.
So they make money-losing electric cars to lower their overall average mileage, which allows them to sell less fuel-efficient but moneymaking SUVs and trucks that consumers want.
In addition, taxpayers subsidize the purchase of electric vehicles and hybrids — up to $7,500 per vehicle. For example, the Bolt’s webpage sets the car’s starting price at $37,495, adding that it is “$29,995 after federal tax credit.” The Bolt featured on the web page is $42,760.
That’s a lot of money for a middle class family making the median household income of $59,000.
Then there’s Tesla, a beautiful EV that many people would love to own, but the Model S begins at about $70,000. Most middle class taxpayers can’t pay that — but their taxes will pay a portion of the $7,500 credit that subsidizes wealthy people who can afford them.
Defenders fear if the tax credit were phased out, EV sales would plummet. When Hong Kong ended its $12,500 tax credit for Teslas, sales tanked. Apparently, Hong Kong residents only wanted it if the government helped pay for it.
There is nothing wrong with automakers churning out EVs if that’s what their customers want. And the day may come when improved technology, longer driving ranges and lower costs create a real demand for electric vehicles. But for now the large majority of Americans want trucks and SUVs.
The car or truck of your dreams may not be the car or truck of the government’s dreams. Remember, these are the same folks who designed Obamacare insurance the way they wanted it, required everyone to have it, and assured us it would be the best health insurance ever.
Don’t let Washington do to our cars and trucks what they did to our health insurance!
The above piece also appeared in the following publications:
NOVEMBER 27, 2017 — KEENE (NH) SENTINEL (9,784) // Op-Ed “Car buyers lose when government tells them what to buy” by Merrill Matthews //
NOVEMBER 27, 2017 — HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER (124,000) // Op-Ed “Car buyers lose when government tells them what to buy” by Merrill Matthews //
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/honolulu-star-advertiser/textview
NOVEMBER 27, 2017 — LEESBURG (FL) DAILY COMMERCIAL (21,327) // Op-Ed “”<” by Merrill Matthews // http://www.dailycommercial.com/opinion/20171127/another-opinion-car-buyers-lose-when-government-tells-them-what-to-buy
NOVEMBER 27, 2017 — ARIZONA STAR / TUCSON (96,682) // Op-Ed “Car buyers lose when government tells them what to buy” by Merrill Matthews // http://tucson.com/opinion/national/merrill-matthews-car-buyers-lose-when-government-tells-them-what/article_a4075ba4-28a1-5913-bd33-0590063fbb9e.html
NOVEMBER 27, 2017 — FREDERICK (MD) NEWS POST (32,472) // Op-Ed “Car buyers lose when government tells them what to buy” by Merrill Matthews // https://www.fredericknewspost.com/opinion/columns/car-buyers-lose-when-government-tells-them-what-to-buy/article_9e000185-72af-5ca2-8e36-216135743e39.html
NOVEMBER 27, 2017 — WORLD NEWS.COM // NEWS & OPINION // Op-Ed “Car buyers lose when government tells them what to buy” by Merrill Matthews //
https://article.wn.com/view/2017/11/27/Car_buyers_lose_when_government_tells_them_what_to_buy/
NOVEMBER 27, 2017 — BEND (OR) BULLETIN (31,796) // Op-Ed “Car buyers lose when government tells them what to buy” by Merrill Matthews //
http://www.bendbulletin.com/opinion/5777131-151/commentary-car-buyers-lose-when-government-tells-them
NOVEMBER 27, 2017 — NEWSTRAL.COM // NEWS & OPINION (31,796) // Op-Ed “Car buyers lose when government tells them what to buy” by Merrill Matthews //
https://newstral.com/en/article/en/1080499997/car-buyers-lose-when-government-tells-them-what-to-buy
NOVEMBER 26, 2017 — CHATTANOOGA SUNDAY TIMES FREE PRESS (109,904) // Op-Ed “Car buyers lose when government tells them what to buy” by Merrill Matthews //
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chattanooga-times-free-press/20171126/282505773910789
NOVEMBER 26, 2017 — NAPLES (FL) SUNDAY NEWS (45,609) // Op-Ed “Car buyers lose when government tells them what to buy” by Merrill Matthews // News Library
NOVEMBER 25, 2017 — QUINCY (MA) PATRIOT LEDGER (38,537) // Op-Ed “Car buyers lose when government tells them what to buy” by Merrill Matthews // News Library
NOVEMBER 25, 2017 — WATERBURY (CT) REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN (42,673) // Op-Ed “Uncle Sam telling us what to buy” by Merrill Matthews // http://www.rep-am.com/opinion/commentary/2017/11/25/uncle-sam-telling-us-what-to-buy/
NOVEMBER 25, 2017 — SAN LUIS OBISPO TRIBUNE (33,980) // Op-Ed “Car buyers lose when government tells them what to buy” by Merrill Matthews // News Library
Tribune, The (San Luis Obispo, CA) - November 25, 2017
NOVEMBER 24, 2017 — ELKTON (MD) CECIL WHIG DAILY (13,320) // Op-Ed “Car buyers lose when government tells them what to buy” by Merrill Matthews // http://www.cecildaily.com/opinion/columns/article_df859a76-6114-5f37-a158-d65ee00b9c4b.html
NOVEMBER 24, 2017 — BELLINGHAM (WA) HERALD (16,780) // Op-Ed “Car buyers lose when government tells them what to buy” by Merrill Matthews // http://www.bellinghamherald.com/opinion/op-ed/article185863823.html * * paper also ran it on the November 22nd
NOVEMBER 23, 2017 — GOP ILLINOIS.COM // REPUBLICAN NEWSLETTER RERUNS SPRINGFIELD (IL) STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER PIECE BY MERRILL MATHEWS // https://gopillinois.com/uncategorized/november-24-morning-edition-2/
NOVEMBER 23, 2017 — SPRINGFIELD (IL) STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER (44,772) // Op-Ed “Car buyers lose when government tells them what to buy” by Merrill Matthews // http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20171123/counterpoint-car-buyers-lose-when-government-tells-them-what-to-buy
NOVEMBER 23, 2017 — NUECES COUNTY (TX) RECORD STAR / ROBSTOWN (2,5392) // Op-Ed “Car buyers lose when government tells them what to buy” by Merrill Matthews // http://www.recordstar.com/opinion/20171123/car-buyers-lose-when-government-tells-them-what-to-buy
NOVEMBER 23, 2017 — CANADA FREE PRESS / TORONTO / CANADA”S MOST POPULAR OPINION WEB SITE WITH 903,000 DAILY VISITORS / Op-Ed “Car buyers lose big when big government tells them what to buy” by Merrill Matthews // http://canadafreepress.com/article/car-buyers-lose-big-when-big-government-tells-them-what-to-buy
NOVEMBER 22, 2017 — SHERMAN (TX) HERALD DEMOCRAT (20,278) // Op-Ed “Car buyers lose when government tells them what to buy” by Merrill Matthews // http://www.heralddemocrat.com/opinion/20171123/car-buyers-lose-when-government-tells-them-what-to-buy
NOVEMBER 22, 2017 — U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS / ST. CROIX, ST. JOHN, ST. THOMAS (61,583) // Op-Ed “Car buyers lose when government tells them what to buy” by Merrill Matthews // http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/ap/us-automakers-are-swept-up-in-a-global-electric-vehicle/article_0c388294-4045-509f-a3b6-aa102940c77c.html
NOVEMBER 22, 2017 — LIMA (OH) (29,100) // Op-Ed “Car buyers lose when government tells them what to buy” by Merrill Matthews // http://www.limaohio.com/opinion/columns/271839/column-dont-let-uncle-sam-drive-car-sales
NOVEMBER 22, 2017 — KENNEWICK (WA) TRI-CITY HERALD (30,895) // Op-Ed “Car buyers lose when government tells them what to buy” by Merrill Matthews //
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/opinion/editorials/article186138468.html
NOVEMBER 22, 2017 — TRENDING TODAY USA / INTERVIEW ON TALK RADIO // Op-Ed “Tax dollars artificially driving the sale of electric vehicles” by Merrill Matthews // Trending Today USA is a fast-paced, news-oriented talk radio show, with a full-time news gathering team, breaking stories and the latest social media topics.
NOVEMBER 22, 2017 — WRKO BOSTON / 680 AM // 1-HOUR INTERVIEW ON TALK SHOW // Op-Ed “Tax dollars artificially driving the sale of electric vehicles” by Merrill Matthews //
NOVEMBER 22, 2017 — HAMODIA / BROOKLYN / THE GLOBAL NEWSPAPER OF TORAH JEWRY WITH FRENCH & ENGLISH EDITIONS (155,000) // Op-Ed “Tax dollars artificially driving the sale of electric vehicles” by Merrill Matthews //
NOVEMBER 22, 2017 — DENVER POST (401,120) // Op-Ed “Tax dollars artificially driving the sale of electric vehicles” by Merrill Matthews // http://www.denverpost.com/2017/11/21/taxpayer-dollars-are-artificially-driving-the-sale-of-electric-vehicles/
NOVEMBER 22, 2017 — SACRAMENTO BEE (196,667) // Op-Ed “Car buyers lose when government tells them what to buy” by Merrill Matthews // http://www.sacbee.com/news/news-services/article185667943.html
NOVEMBER 22, 2017 — BELLINGHAM (WA) HERALD (16,780) // Op-Ed “Car buyers lose when government tells them what to buy” by Merrill Matthews // http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/news-services/article185667943.html
NOVEMBER 22, 2017 — ARCA MAX / ARCAMAX PUBLISHING NEWS & OPINION // Op-Ed “Car buyers lose when government tells them what to buy” by Merrill Matthews // https://www.arcamax.com/politics/opeds/s-2020141
NOVEMBER 22, 2017 — KONSERVATIVE KARTEL.COM // NEWS & OPINION // Op-Ed “Car buyers lose when government tells them what to buy” by Merrill Matthews // konservativekartel.com/car-buyers-lose-when-government-tells-them-what-to-buy/
NOVEMBER 22, 2017 — JEWISH WORLD REVIEW // NEWS & OPINION // Op-Ed “Car buyers lose when government tells them what to buy” by Merrill Matthews // http://www.jewishworldreview.com/1117/matthews112117.php3
NOVEMBER 22, 2017 — PERSONAL LIBERTY / LIBERTARIAN WEB SITE // NEWS & OPINION // Op-Ed “Car buyers lose when government tells them what to buy” by Merrill Matthews // https://personalliberty.com/car-buyers-lose-government-tells-buy/
NOVEMBER 22, 2017 — TRIBUNE NEWS CONTENT AGENCY / CHICAGO / NEWS LIBRARY // Op-Ed “Car buyers lose when government tells them what to buy” by Merrill Matthews //
NOVEMBER 22, 2017 — NORTHWESTCABLE.NET / NEWS & OPINION // Op-Ed “Car buyers lose when government tells them what to buy” by Merrill Matthews // http://www.nwcable.net/news/read/category/Opinion/article/tribune_news_service-car_buyers_lose_when_government_tells_them_what_to-tca