If you can bear it, watch this 4 minute video of Fox News’ propaganda coverage on a “Chevy Volt scam”. Apparently the best they could do was talk to a “former Saturn dealer” who “looked at a couple websites”.
Okay… now lets straighten things out.
By now you should know about the $7,500 tax incentive new Volt consumers are currently eligible for. By law, a second-hand (used) Volt cannot be sold with the tax break. The law also prohibits dealers to keep the money in “dealer-to-dealer” transactions. But in the two listed cases coming from a non-profit called the National Legal and Policy Center — one being a Kia dealer, which can’t sell Chevys, and the other being a Chicago-area dealer, which currently falls out of the Volt’s launch market until later this year — these “used” Volts fail to meet tax incentive qualifications, making the consumer pay $7,500 more than they would have to otherwise.
So, are these dealers “gaming” the system? Hardly, as both dealers willingly inform their customers that their Volts technically fall under the used category. And if an early-adopter really wants to buy one today, lives outside the Volt’s launch market (such as the Chitown Chevy dealer), and can’t wait for the car to officially sell in their home state, he or she probably doesn’t care about the tax break.
GM’s PR team has labeled this report “confused”. Aside from that, the current Chevy Volt supply runs out in a mere 10 days — they don’t just sit on dealer lots like the message in this “story” suggests. Oh, and “30 miles on an electric charge and 30 miles per gallon afterwards on premium fuel” should immediately tell you that these guys haven’t a clue.
Hey, Fox, do everyone in our line of work a favor, and stop making “media” a dirty word.
Source: NLPC
Comments
Unfortunately, Manoli, it’s not just Fox that’s giving media a bad name. I recall years ago that the great CNN once carried a news report alleging that there was an underground white slave ring ongoing in Jamaica. I’m not sure how nobody would notice cane fields (or ganja fields?!?) being cultivated by white men and women in raggedy clothes being overseen by a black guy on horseback with a whip. But…alas…Media on a whole is no longer about information. It is about drawing in viewers (critical or supportive) who will watch advertisements paid for by commercial interests. The Volt will always get a bad rap from the likes of Fox because they see it as the ultimate Obama-mobile, notwithstanding the fact that it was conceived during their hero GWB’s rein as King of the Free World. Did I say that? I guess I did…I guess Jamaica is in trouble now…
Well put, Richard, well put!
It is a shame that the Chevy Volt has gotten caught up in the political debate.
The decision to buy a car should be based upon whether the car is a good vehicle, not based upon whether you like or hate Obama…..