Auto Alliance CEO has another cash for clunkers idea

Yesterday, we wrote about two "cash for clunkers" ideas being discussed by U.S. and German lawmakers. Over on Gristmill, the president and CEO of the Auto Alliance, Dave McCurdy, has detailed a separate plan that would pay people to get rid of their old cars and buy new ones, new cars that are more efficient and cleaner than older cars. While McCurdy uses at least one slipperly line of thought (where he says that, "In the industry, we often say that the best thing you can due to reduce emissions is to purchase a new car. Why? Because today's vehicles are 99 percent cleaner than vehicles of the 1970s." That may be true, but there a not a lot of people driving around in a 1975 Chevy Impala just waiting to trade up), we do understand that, on average, new models are cleaner than older ones. Therefore, the Allliance's suggestion that vehicles that are ten years old or older would be worth something to the government to take off the road has merit. Especially when coupled with a sliding scale incentive payment that says that the better fuel economy rating your new car has, the more money you receive. Thanks to Bryan P. for the tip!

[Source: Gristmill/Auto Alliance]