Tom Friedman on Toyota's Duplicity
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 10. 3.07
Tom Friedman of the New York Times is on a roll of late; while we have been critical of his views on coal and energy, his article last week on 9/12 was on the button, and today he exoriates Toyota for supporting the American auto makers in their efforts to water down efforts by Congress to legislate improved mileage standards.
"Now why would Toyota, which has used the Prius to brand itself as the greenest car company, pull such a stunt? Is it because Toyota wants to slow down innovation in Detroit on more energy efficient vehicles, which Toyota already dominates, while also keeping mileage room to build giant pickup trucks, like the Toyota Tundra, at the gas-guzzler end of the U.S. market?
“Toyota wants to keep its green halo and beat G.M. in the big trucks, too,” said Deron Lovaas, vehicles expert at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “As the world’s largest automaker and inventor of the best-selling hybrid car, Toyota has a responsibility to lead, follow or get out of the way as Congress debates the first substantial fuel-economy boost in decades. Shamefully, Toyota has joined forces with older automakers that are getting their lunch handed to them in the marketplace, in part because they’ve consistently shunned fuel efficiency.” ::New York Times
No Mercy!
Toyota supports US auto industry in limiting mpg because it is to their best interest. The lower the mpg is kept on US cars, the more the higher mpg imported cars will sell, especially as the gasoline prices increase. Toyota gives the image of supporting the US auto industry when in fact the only support is in the direction of Environmental Destruction and bankruptcy of the auto industry here. The Japanese mentality for business holds no mercy for its competition.
adrianakau@aol.com
Toyota has the technology to support the Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) standard of 35 mpg by 2020.
They could really leverage support of this standard in the new energy bill that's currently being debated in Congress to strengthen their Green image. For shame.
I'm currently working with a coalition to push for the adoption of the cleanest, greenest Energy Bill by congress ever. The adoption of the CAFE standard and Renewable Electricity Standard will be a monumental step towards stopping global warming.
If you support this too, please sign this petition:
Energy Bill 2007