Here’s another interesting piece of auto industry news I happened across today. You may be familiar with a piece of legislation that has been discussed for a few months now and was voted on by the House of Representatives yesterday. This legislation is nicknamed “Cash for Guzzlers” and entails pretty much what you would expect given the title. This bill would allocate 1 billion dollars to a voucher system for car owners who wish to trade in “gas guzzlers” for a smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicle. Each owner would be eligible to receive 4500 dollars towards their purchase of the new vehicle. A novel idea, I mean, I think this would be a nice way to stimulate the populous: encouraging them to simultaneously buy an American vehicle and reduce their carbon footprint (which regardless of whether or not you like Al Gore, actually is an important issue).

Some lawmakers are calling this legislation just another attempt to bail out the auto industry. Bailoutbailoutbailout. Maybe the government is giving to much money to failing businesses, I’m not here to make any judgments Regardless of this squabbling, the bail.. I mean bill passed the House by just 24 votes and now moves into the Senate where it will probably die a painful and public death. This voucher system (if passed) would be in effect until November of this year.

In other news, a new car manufacturer called V-Vehicle will soon be opening its doors in Louisiana. This is just the latest from the Louisiana Economic Development team, and should do wonders for the (approximately) 1400 people it will employ. This company is another step in the right direction, as they will specialize in the production of high gas mileage vehicles. It’s got to worth something, I mean.. T. Boone Pickens attached his name to it as one of the chief investors. That guy is so much fun.

That’s all for this week. Wish me a happy birthday! (tomorrow)