House Passes CARS Act
On Wednesday the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS) Act in a largely party-line vote. AIADA released a statement lauding the vote and urging the Senate to pass its version of the legislation. Rep. Roger Williams (R-Texas) spoke in favor of the legislation on the House floor. Watch the video.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), would permanently prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from finalizing it’s proposed emissions rule. In April the EPA proposed its strictest ever emissions rule which would effectively require that two out of every three new vehicles sold be all-electric by 2032. However, should it also pass the Senate, President Biden has said he would veto the bill.
Dealers who have not already done so should weigh in with Congress and ask that they continue to tell the EPA how the proposed rule would harm automakers, dealers, and consumers:
EV Tax Credits
Also this week, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) introduced the “Putting American Autoworkers First Act of 2023,” which would ban automakers that offshore any production from receiving federal incentive programs created under the Inflation Reduction Act, including any of the Clean Vehicle tax credits, for ten years. Currently, in order to qualify for the EV tax credit, vehicles must be made in North America and meet specific sourcing criteria for batteries and minerals.
Quotes of the Week
“The government has forced manufacturers to build EVs at a rate that is not supported by consumers, and dealers are stuck holding the bag. We all want to see cleaner, greener roads, and for that to happen we need to not just build EVs, but also build the infrastructure that supports them. As it stands, consumers aren’t going to buy an electric car they can’t charge, or one they can’t afford.”
-Mike DeSilva, Chairman, AIADA (www.aiada.org)
“Today we thank members of the House for voting to pass the CARS Act and taking a stand against regulatory overreach. With this vote, Congress recognizes that our government needs to approach this challenge thoughtfully and deliberately, and not with EPA-driven sales mandates. Dealers now look to the Senate to vote similarly on their own version of the CARS act.”
-Cody Lusk, President & CEO, AIADA (www.aiada.org)
ICYMI
In case you missed it, AIADA Chairman Mike DeSilva is out with his latest blog – check it out!
Friday Feel Good
Here is just one recent example of how dealers are doing good:
Park Place Dealerships in Texas awarded $100,000 to 18 non-profits throughout the month of October as part of its third annual Season of Giving initiative. The dealership’s charitable arm, Park Place Cares, invited non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to apply for a one-time, annual grant. Park Place has been partnering with local charities in Dallas/Fort Worth and the surrounding areas for over 35 years. (h/t: CBT News)
We want to hear more about how you are supporting your local community – tweet us at @AIADA_News and use the hashtag #DealersDoGood.
