Some folks don't seem to be happy about the City of Indianapolis' decision to purchase 85 Toyota hybrid Camry vehicles for public safety's fleet. Penske Chevrolet is alleging collusion in the bid award to Andy Mohr Toyota because it offered the City the Chevy Malibu hybrid for $1,700 per vehicle less than Mohr's Toyota Camry brand, or a total bid price of $148,000 less. The Camry gets seven miles per gallon better fuel efficiency, 33 mpg for the Camry compared to 26 mpg for the Malibu. The City tells the Star's Brendan O'Shaughnessy that the difference in vehicle price will be made up in fuel savings within five years. The City plans to keep the cars in its fleet for seven to eight years.
Choosing the Toyota over the Chevy may not be the most popular political decision to make, but it seems to be grounded in a sound business judgment. The "Buy American" folks often forget that Toyota has a huge manufacturing presence in the U.S. and, in particular, Indiana. The Toyotas being purchased by the City in this deal are actually assembled at a plant in Kentucky.
6 comments:
Why would the Malibu only get 26 mpg if it's a hybrid? I get more than that in my car which is a regular gas guzzling car.
Well, $1700 cheaper is nice, but it would be nicer if they didn't have to undercut their normal retail price which was also losing GM money.
It would be nicer still if GM could match the longer service life, lower downtime, and better gas mileage of the Toyota, all of which will easily surpass the measly $1700 dumping price, err, special that GM offered the city.
(The Chevy will most likely suffer a few expensive breakdowns over 7-8 years, and 26 mpg in the city is horrible for a hybrid)
And then, like you said, the Toyota was made largely here in Indiana by a foreign company, while the Chevy was made in Mexico and assembled in Canada for a company with an American CEO that flew in a private luxury jet to tell Congress "Thank you sir, may I have some more?".
I'm sorry, but at this point it is pointless to bailout the Big Three under the guise of saving American jobs, while 80% of those jobs are in other countries.
Let the CEOs go ask Mexico, Canada, and China for 80% of the bailout money...
Because it's a Chevy, Paul?
A.I.,
Do you know who is representing Penske Chevy in their bid protest?
-Just Curious
Larger Hybrid cars often rely more on the hybrid engine for more power, than for fuel efficiency. It's especially true on SUV hybrids. Hybrid engines add some efficiency, but lightweight cars that are more aerodynamically focused get the best gas mileage regardless of the type of engine. The Toyota Yaris gets an EPA rating of 45mpg, and is not a hybrid. I drive a hybrid and love it. My hybrid batters were just replaced under the extended warranty and the car is about 9 years old. New hybrid batteries would have cost at least $2,500 if not under warranty.
Don't worry folks...Joanne Sanders is on the case!!!
She will get to the bottom of this and punish that mayor person for not being a politician!!!
Never mind Bart Peterson's crimes, never mind MonRoe Gray's crimes, never mind Doris Minton-McNeil's crimes, etc. etc. etc.
I WANT MY MAYPO!
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