Indiana

Car Wars

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

A local car dealer is formally protesting the city of Indianapolis’ decision to purchase 85 hybrid vehicles from a Japanese automaker.

In an e-mail sent Monday to the Mayor and City-County Council, Mike Chaney of Penske Chevrolet said DPS awarding of $2 million contract to Andy Mohr Toyota for the hybrid vehicles was $184,000 more than what Chevy would have charged them.   Chaney says Toyota charged the city approximately $25,000 per hybrid when Penske would have only charged $24,000.

Chaney also says they could have delivered the vehicles between April and June of 2009 while Toyota’s would have been staggered over a six month period and disputed the gas savings of the Toyota  Hybrid.  Chaney also says in his e-mail that Toyota is making a profit of $197,000 while Penske would have made a profit of $4,400. 

In his complaint,  Chaney also accuses the city of giving Andy Mohr Toyota preferential treatment and accused Public Safety Director Scott Newman of having inappropriate contact with Toyota.

City officials say they followed all standard bidding practices and stand by their decision to purchase the Toyota hybrids.  

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on December 02, 2008 (boomark / email).