What do you look for when you buy a car, truck or other vehicle?
If you’re like most people, you want it to be affordable and reliable. Of course, you also want it to meet your needs, whether it be transporting a family or hauling materials. And you may want it to have a certain “style.” You likely would consider the gas mileage the vehicle gets, and some who are concerned about “global warming” might consider its “greenhouse gas” emissions.
That’s all fine, and it’s reasonable to expect a car dealer to provide ample, clear disclosure on price, mileage, emissions and so forth so consumers can make informed choices.
But the federal government is trying to go further than that. The Obama administration has proposed a plan that would slap potentially very negative letter grades on many of the new vehicles sold in the United States, based on the vehicles’ gas mileage and “greenhouse gas” emissions.
The highest grade, A-plus, would go to electric cars getting 117 miles per gallon or higher. Plug-in hybrids would get an A. But the grades would be much lower for many vehicles that are far more popular with American consumers. Not a single minivan would get any grade higher than C-plus, and SUV ratings would be roughly similar. Many pickup trucks would get abysmal ratings, too.
But the government should not force car dealers to undermine their own products by telling buyers that certain cars are “bad” based on emissions, mileage or other factors. Those are not the only qualities consumers consider when buying a vehicle. Some people need larger cars, trucks, SUVs or minivans to transport their families or work-related materials.
Mileage and emissions numbers should be spelled out accurately and clearly so consumers can compare and contrast. But buyers should be able to determine which vehicles are “good” and which are “bad” based on their own needs and priorities, not government’s. Government certainly should not force car dealers to poor-mouth their own products.