Alleged GE Memo Tells Employees: Want to Drive a Company Car, It Will Likely be a Volt
- Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:13am by
Mike Opelka
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General Motors expected to sell 10,000 Chevy Volts in 2011. They failed to hit that target, actually selling fewer than 7,000 of the electric and gas powered vehicles.
In GM’s 2012 sales projections for the Volt, the company was initially claiming they would deliver 60,000 cars. That number has been dropped down to 45,000. Those downsized, but still aggressive, projections will be helped by General Electric’s decision to order 12,000 Volts and some other hybrid for its company fleet.
GE, a company headed by Obama Jobs Czar Jeffry Immelt, is also well known for its questionable federal income tax rate in 2010. And now GE is reportedly “nudging” a substantial number of employees to drive the Chevy Volt by replacing the company cars in its fleet with the “green” cars. The company is also paying for the installation of charging stations at the homes of those employees who will be driving the car and is even paying for the electricity used to charge them.
GE Home Charging Station (attractive model not included)
If you choose not to drive a Volt from the company’s fleet, and instead want to drive your own, GE is no longer going to reimburse your travel costs.
From the memo allegedly sent to GEHA employees (via Greencarreports.com):
To encourage EV deployment, if an employee is eligible for a fleet vehicle, a fleet vehicle will be made available. If a new driver opts out of the fleet program and elects to drive a personal vehicle, there will be no reimbursement. For current employees who qualify for a fleet vehicle, but have chosen to drive a personal vehicle, reimbursement by GEHC will stop as of 1/1/2013.
That qualifies as a “nudge.”
GM is also raising eyebrows over the news that the company will be double-dipping from federal stimulus programs meant to encourage consumers to buy electric vehicles.
It appears that Chevy dealerships selling the Volt to government agencies and non-profits will also be able to claim the $7500 tax credit meant for individual consumers:
“If you are the seller of a qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle to a tax-exempt organization, governmental unit, or a foreign person or entity, and the use of that vehicle is described in section 50(b)(3) or (4), you can claim the credit, but only if you clearly disclose in writing to the purchaser the amount of the tentative credit allowable for the vehicle (from line 6 of Form 8936).”
(H/T: Marc Modica at NLPC.org)
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Comments (97)
Godfather.1
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 11:30amAlthough this article claims that GM will be double dipping, it completely fails to explain this statement. Rather, it just says that it will get a tax credit for selling the cars to government agencies.
But, if you actually look at the tax form, it specifically allows dealers to receive a tax credit for selling these cars to government agencies and non-profits. It also allows a tax credit for purchasers of these cars. Thus, how is GM double dipping? It doesn’t get two tax credits for selling the car. It only gets a tax credit for selling it to one of the listed organizations.
Blaze, you really need to do better research before you post these ridiculous articles. A good starting point would be to stop just reposting other blog posts, which is exactly what you did here.
Report Post »Mike Opelka
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 11:53am@Godfather – Why state the obvious facts known by most folks? The truth? It’s not double-dipping, but actually closer to triple-dipping. Taxpayers gave GM billions to re-tool and develop cars like the VOLT. We also paid until $$$ to companies that created the burning battery technology used in the car. And now dealers are taking the rebates meant for consumers. I’d say that qualifies as double or triple dipping.
Report Post »turkey13
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 11:54amHere on Oklahoma I’v only seen one Volt and both times it was on a roll top wrecker. Both times it was on George Smith’s wrecker. Last Sunday I saw Robbie Smith the driver and asked him where he took it. The first time to our local dealer and they had him take it on to an autorized dealer in OK City. This last time it fried the wires and is still up there after 3 weeks. He knows the lawyer that owns it and is fileing under our lemon law. After owning the car for 3 1/2 months he only has 800 miles on it.
Report Post »Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 12:21pmIt’s hilarious how you people shun and fear any new technology because you associate it with green or the left or whatever.
You‘re like the scared villagers with your pitchforks and torches screaming witch at somebody’s house.
Bunch of dumb inbreds.
1proud_Texan
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 12:57pmLiberal ideas are so wonderful you have to pay people to use them.
Report Post »Godfather.1
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 1:40pm@MIKE OPELKA
Clearly it is still not obvious to you. If GM gets a tax rebate for selling these cars to the people, it is because is is specifically allowed in the tax code. They are not taking rebates meant for customers because it is specifically spelled out that the DEALERS are also entitled to rebates for certain sales. That is not double dipping no matter which way you look at it.
Seriously Blaze, if you actually want to be taken seriously by non-teabaggers, cite sources other than right wing blogs.
Report Post »g123695
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 2:10pmGM is using tax payer money [aka bailout] to manufacture them. Then it claims the tax exemption for selling them. They’re also using the tax credit on the 12,000 they’re buying as fleet vehicles to artificially inflate their sales numbers. Then pays less than zero corporate taxes. “Double-dipping” was a nice term.
Report Post »Hollywood
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 2:22pmI want to see a pic of the G.E. CEO,IMMELT,and all executives, driving their Volts, to lead by example! Think I will be waiting in vain here?
Report Post »KPEdwards
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 3:08pmThanks Godfather
I understand some people might not like the product for whatever reason, but this is tax credits designed to have a product made in America and purchased in America. Guess what – that‘s what it’s doing. Now, your dislike of the product might be enough that you’ll just leave money on the table, but hey – that’s your choice.
If you want to say that we shouldn’t be picking winners. Well, then let’s take away some subsidies, have power generation operate and pay without any tax benefits, and pay the inflated costs of energy because we all kind of like it.There are reasons this car is subsidized whether you like it or not (one of them being it decreases demand for gas and allows the price to lower through market forces).
And if you want to say that GE is trying to influence the market and force the car on employees – well, so what? They’re a company, and are allowed to buy whatever company car they want. Do they have an interest in driving up demand? Yes. So, why should they act against their own interests? GE wants GM to continue making volts. So, they buy them.
Report Post »machine0020
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 3:40pmI love how all you tree huggers are PERFECTLY fine with GM abusing the tax code to pay less, yet you cry incessantly about oil companies doing the same thing. You are a bunch of hypocrites, and I will be there laughing when GMs latest abortion, the VOLT, ends up in a smoldering pile of melted batteries and wires….
Report Post »Godfather.1
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:21pm@MACHINE0020
Let met get this straight. The tax exemption explicitly allows dealerships to get a tax credit if they sell these cars to certain organizations and you believe that is abusing the tax system? What else are they supposed to do, just ignore a tax credit that comes their way?
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:26pmSounds like a smart idea.
But, when I worked for Motorola, back in the day, they were building Power PC Chips for Apple computers. Motorola decided to get rid of all of the thousands of NEC and other computers the company was using and install Power PC Apple computers for everyone.
It stimulated the market (falsely) and provided a market that wasn’t there with sales figures and all the sales hoopla that goes along with it. It looked real good for about 3 years. Then, the DUNGEON.
Motorola had to get out of the semiconductor business because it was too dynamic. Costs were reduced as fast as they escalated and profits became difficult to predict, sales impossible to set goals for.
Today, the semiconductor fab I ramped up, facilitated, equipped, debugged and handed over to production is a ‘foundry’ company. And Motorola has determined to return to its roots.
I‘d be very careful how many ’Volts‘ were purchased on the ’Government Motors’ dime. We could ALL be on the hook for it, later.
Report Post »MIBUGNU2
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 6:54pmWhat a TRIO, Obama, GM and GE… Cronyism !!
Obama giving them all our Money..
GM, Government Motors, VOLT..
GE, Building charging systems and windmills, pays NO taxes..
Report Post »pavepaws
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 2:52pmIs fire insurance extra?
Report Post »Dan_o
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 1:24pmGodfather.1, just who do you think is paying for these “tax breaks”?
If both the seller and buyer of the car get a tax break, it costs those who pay the taxes more money. Just because it is explicitly stated in tax code doesn’t make it okay or not double dipping.
Is there something forcing you to read a news source you consider biased? If not, I suggest you leave and don’t come back.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 11:23amI can foresee towing costs rising for GE. People who have to drive for work at GE being stranded, or just not using the battery at all. If anyone is keeping track, I’d be interested in how many people move from GE to a different company.
Report Post »WashingtonIsMyHero
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 11:16amImmelt is a Progressive and a hypocrit. I would walk before buying any GM vehicle. I just don’t like anything the government tries to shove down my throat. I used to sympathize with the early environmental movement, now I’m an anti-environmental activist because they just couldn’t draw the line between reason and fanaticism.
Report Post »Timothy_Reid
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 11:07amGM says “well if we can’t sell em, let’s hand them out to our employees. It might be a clever way to get rid of the union given the safety issues. Hmmm…
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 11:05amNo worries by adding these “horrible creations” to their fleet of cars they can UP the amount they have “sold” and it looks good to their numbers! ha ha ha Make me an electric vehicle I can travel on 1 charge coast to coast!!!! Then we can talk about “saving the planet”!!!
Report Post »joe conservative
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 11:09amI told everyone that would listen when Obama came into office that GE would make Haliburton look like a lemonade stand by the time Obama is out of office.
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1oDqfTl3KA
MIBUGNU2
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 6:35pmUnions and GE are todays Halliburton… Never seems to
Report Post »end, Just different Corrupt Politicians making Billions off
the backs of the American Tax Payer, Obama, Pelosi and
Reid.. will be Billionairs when they leave office, Serving
the People.. nice, HUH ?????
usafpatriot
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 11:05amIt‘s a wonder that DOD hasn’t already been force to replace their vehicles with the Volt, and spend millions of additional money to install charging stations on every base. In the mean time cut forces and personnel and reduce military retiree benefits.
Report Post »Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 11:03amWe should be concentrating on the next generation of clean renewable automobiles. We have already lost this round. Meantime obama/progressives push us deeper into the abyss. This is no longer about cars. This is about how much subsidy you can get and put on the balance sheet.. That’s the business today. We are paying the hit man to assassinate ourselves!
Report Post »bigfatslob
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 11:00amA company has the right to do as it wants in this case. The company would in all likelyhood be co-liable along with GM for any damage to life, limb, or property caused by the unsafe lithium battery pack on the Volt. The very first law suit could cost GE millions !
Report Post »Carney3
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 5:12pmIt’s not unsafe, media hysteria to the contrary. Zero people have died or even been hurt in Volt fires. In fact zero Volts have ignited in real world conditions, even after being totaled. The only Volts that have ignited did so after being smashed up in government crash tests, then, contrary to GM safety and repair standards, were left to sit unfixed for WEEKS without their stored energy being drained for safety.
Meanwhile 250,000 non-Volts ignite every year, killing hundreds of Americans in agonizing terrifying deaths. Bet they’d have loved to have had WEEKS to get out of their car like the Volt would have given them.
The PRIVATE SECTOR Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the Volt a Top Safety Pick. TOP. SAFETY. PICK.
Report Post »proud2bmom
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:55amIt’s a private company. Do they have to reimburse employees for mileage? I don’t believe they do. It’s a good move to keep employees happy, but they don’t have to do it. They get to choose what they pay and what they don’t.
What happened to self-reliance? This is just another “entitlement”. Only difference is it is coming from the company rather than a government program. The government involvement with bailouts, etc. has muddied the waters, but it really does boil down to a private company deciding how it spends its money. If you don’t like it and want your mileage to be deductible, quit and start your own business. Stop depending on the government, a company or anyone other than yourself.
Report Post »BAPDCO
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 11:00amDid you fail to read the paragraph which stated, : GM is also raising eyebrows over the news that the company will be double-dipping from federal stimulus programs meant to encourage consumers to buy electric vehicles.” Cronyism, again.
Report Post »delinski
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 11:23amBAPDCO; you are absolutely correct. This is a clear case of crony capitalism. Immelt is a disgusting schill for the Obama administration and it wouldn’t surprise me if he is getting much more than just the double dip of federal dollars. GE is an example of one of the weak companies that can’t do things themselves so they rely on looting of taxpayer dollars through loopholes at every level of their business. Ayn Rand would have a field day blasting these guys, and rightly so.
Report Post »sunnydecoy
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 8:14pmif you dont like it quit. Its a perk and a nice one at that.
Report Post »Godfather.1
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:54amAlthough this article claims that GM will be double dipping, it completely fails to explain this statement. Rather, it just says that it will get a tax credit for selling the cars to government agencies.
But, if you actually look at the tax form, it specifically allows dealers to receive a tax credit for selling these cars to government agencies and non-profits. It also allows a tax credit for purchasers of these cars. Thus, how is GM double dipping? It doesn’t get two tax credits for selling the car. It only gets a tax credit for selling it to one of the listed organizations.
Blaze, you really need to do better research before you post these ridiculous articles. A good starting point would be to stop just reposting other blog posts, which is exactly what you did here.
RayOne
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:53amCrony Capitalism smells bad even when it’s not Solyndra.
Report Post »Vickie Dhaene
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 12:01pmAdding that this sounds a lot like Union coercion and strong arming.
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:53amUh…. Not interested in anything GM has to offer.
Report Post »2theADDLED
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 4:23pmYou can inflate numbers by sales but when Customer Service is null people will realize they were sold junk. Chrysler did this same scam if you had a dollar you could buy a new car but then if you wanted to trade it in they wouldn’t even want it back on their lot leaving the buyer left with unsellable junk.
Report Post »AmazingGrace8
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:51amThis is a BRILLIANT IDEA! …Shovel-ready jobs for land-scapers….planting CURRENT BUSHES every 50 miles along the highways & by-ways of America! Great “green jobs” created & saved! Don’t have to borrow money from China for ferterlizer, we have all the ferterlizer in Washington DC, shovel-ready now!
Report Post »gr8t2bfree
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:49amRule of thumb…..never buy anything the gov’t wants you to. It’s a loser! Here sheepy sheepy!
Report Post »concealled9mms
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:47amthis is funny they take there dues ,tell them who to vote for and now what car to drive you talk about sheep these people are useless pawns
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:46amWill GE offer extra insurance to those families that are burned by the fire caused by the Volt?
Report Post »dsind
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:45ama little collusion eh
Report Post »rationallyurs
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:36amthink czar immelt drives a volt–lol–but then again he did send lots and lots of good jobs to china
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:50amObama promised tranparency and that‘s pretty transparent Obama’s big supporter buying cars from Obama’s biggest disaster. Of Course GE will want all the tax deductions,costumer cash backs,green energy credits and every other subsity attatched to the Volt. The government will end up entirely paying GE to purchase 12,000 Volts.
Report Post »GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION ON A LEVEL NEVER SEEN IN U.S. HISTORY…AND THE NOTHING BUT CRICKETS FROM THE 90% OF THE MEDIA.
poster
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:35am“The company is also paying for the installation of charging stations at the homes of those employees who will be driving the car and is even paying for the electricity used to charge them.”
Hey — maybe this can become a new government program – you know – just like free cell phones!
Report Post »poster
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:33amSo typical of Obama and Government Motors. They’ll just FORCE you to do what they want.
Report Post »USAMEDIC3008
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:36amNot even if the girl comes with the car
Report Post »Carney3
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 5:11pmHow many companies that buy fleet cars give you a “whatever you want” option? Most instead say “use our fleet car, period”. That’s not a sinister conspiracy.
Report Post »Listen_then_think
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:31amMore double dipping double standards from obama and his “czars”, pronounced cronie capitalists. Another failed “green” company bailed out with my money and who gets the second and third benefits from my money? Why Jeff Immelt a cronie of obamas administration does of course.
Report Post »Anyone who votes for obama again should be put on a list as rebels to the constitution, and the American way of liberties.
The volt is a dismal failure on par with the yugo. I used to be a chevy guy but next car I buy will be a “not any vehicle by GM”. I will not support that crap and bailout and Jeff Immelt since he is on obamas buddy list. I will not support obama in any way as he is a traitor to the American people with his destruction of America.
Rayblue
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:29amThey should provide a bucket of government cheese to go with it.
Report Post »Tigress1
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:26amWhile I understand why a company that builds cars would say that they will only pay for the employees cars if it is one that they build themselves, it’s funny since the only people buying their cars ARE the employees! Screams of desperation.
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:37amBut this isn’t GM… This is GE (General Electric)!
Which means that GE is in on the scam with GM.
Maybe there is a “GEM” in the works? LOL
I’m sure GE either has some components in the volt, or, is working hard to get them in.
Too bad they are picking the losing side.
America has already REJECTED the volt… Just like America REJECTED OBAMACARE !
But, if we won’t CHOOSE to do what we are told, they are going to FORCE us to do it.
If they can FORCE sales numbers up to LOOK like the volt is profitable, then they can justify continuing to push it and pursue it.
As it stands, nobody wants these ridiculously expensive golf carts that seem to have an annoying habit of bursting into flames and burning the occupants/drivers!!!
SCARY ! (the volt AND the secret collusion between obama, gm and ge)
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:25amHow many company employees will be stranded while on company business?
/sarc
Report Post »Good press coming for the Volt!
/sarc off
Carney3
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 5:10pmZero, because the Volt has a built-in backup gasoline engine. Not that it would be often needed since more than 75% of Americans drive less than 40 miles a day.
Report Post »Tri-ox
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:18amLOL – who would be dumb enough to risk their life by driving a death-trap Chevy Voltobama?
Report Post »Carney3
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 5:08pmZero people have died or even been hurt in Volt fires. In fact zero Volts have ignited in real world conditions, even after being totaled. The only Volts that have ignited did so after being smashed up in government crash tests, then, contrary to GM safety and repair standards, were left to sit unfixed for WEEKS without their stored energy being drained for safety.
Meanwhile 250,000 non-Volts ignite every year, killing hundreds of Americans in agonizing terrifying deaths. Bet they’d have loved to have had WEEKS to get out of their car like the Volt would have given them.
The PRIVATE SECTOR Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the Volt a Top Safety Pick. TOP. SAFETY. PICK.
Report Post »Carney3
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 5:09pmYou want the Volt to fail because you wrongly assume it’s an Obama initiative. In fact GM committed to and began work on it in 2006 when Bush was president. The Republican House and Senate passed the electric car tax credit, and Bush signed it into law, in 2005. GM would have released the Volt no matter who won the White House in 2008.
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