MichMash: Gov. Whitmer unveils new vehicle rebate plan
The new state tax rebate could save Michiganders up to $10,000 when combined with federal incentives.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently unveiled plans for a new tax rebate for those who purchase electric vehicles. Automotive News’ Jake Neher sat down with MichMash host Cheyna Roth to unpack the nature of these tax rebates.
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In this episode:
- Gov. Whitmer’s tax rebate program for new car purchases
- The state of electric vehicles
- The UAW filing unfair labor charges against Honda, Hyundai and Volkswagen
This $25 million tax rebate program aims to boost new electric, hybrid, and traditional combustion vehicle sales in Michigan while incentivizing purchasing cars from unionized factories. The tax rebates will be awarded under four categories: $2,500 on a new battery electric or hybrid vehicle from a unionized factory; $2,000 on a new battery electric or hybrid vehicle from a non-union factory; $1,500 on a new internal combustion vehicle from a unionized factory; and $1,000 on all other new internal combustion vehicles.
Neher is questioning the purpose of the plan.
“Is [the tax rebate program] to actually boost new vehicle sales in Michigan? New vehicles sales aren’t what they were before the chip shortage or the pandemic but they have been steadily coming back since those supply issues, and the pandemic has ended, so it’s not like there is some emergency to boost vehicle sales right now,” he said, adding that we might be given more clarity on the motivations behind the program during the State of the State address in January.
More from MichMash:
- Detroit Today: Automakers struggle to charge up demand for electric vehicles
- UAW leader Shawn Fain joins calls for ceasefire in Gaza
- MichMash: Congress shows bipartisan concern over electric vehicle testing in China
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