Big Three attack Japanese clunkers program

Chrysler, Ford and General Motors have asked the federal government to get tough with Japan over its discriminatory “cash for clunkers” program. The Japanese program gives a tax credit of up to 250,000 yen (about $2,830 at current exchange rates) for trading in a vehicle 13 years old or older on a new vehicle that meets 2010 fuel efficiency standards. As was true in the U.S. program, the trade-ins would be scrapped. Another stimulus program offers 100,000 yen (about $1,130) on a new-car purchase without a trade-in.

Unlike the American program, which primarily benefited the foreign automakers, the Japanese program excluded American vehicles because of special import rules. Eighty-seven percent of new Japanese cars are eligible.

Carol Guthrie, a spokewoman for the U.S. Trade Representative, said the government was working to address the issue. “USTR is continuing to raise this issue with the Japanese government. Our position remains that changes are necessary to give U.S. vehicles greater opportunity to qualify under Japan’s program.” (Better heat up the syrup, boys, that sounds like a waffle to me.)

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