Isn't it time to give Toyota the Big 3's hybrid tax credits?

Give the Prius some credit

In advance of the President's State of the Union speech, Big 3 automakers are using the Auto Show circuit to show Congress and the President that they can be fuel efficient. Ford announced 20 flex fuel hybrids and a $2,000,000 hydrogen plug-in hybrid. DaimlerChrysler showed off the most fuel efficient, clean diesel heavy duty Ram pickup truck, and GM debuted the Chevy Volt concept at NAIAS.

Wow, I guess Detroit gets it, huh?

Well, why then are the Big 3 sitting on more than 150,000 tax credits available for hybrid vehicles as Toyota's hybrid tax credits expire because they sold too many hybrids? Why do we punish Toyota's clean and fuel efficient success and protect Detroit's complacency? Is this really how you drive innovation? How about some good old American competition?

As I blogged earlier today, it's time to put tax incentives into the hands of the people rather than the corporations. Give the people the money to afford hybrid vehicles and other clean technologies and to reward whoever makes the hybrids consumers want.

While I desperately want the Big 3 to succeed, it's time for real world vehicles, not fancy concepts and $2 million one-offs.