Hummer and “fuel-efficient” are rarely mentioned in the same breath. But anyone in Japan who buys the Hummer H3 model — with its 5.3-liter, 300-horsepower engine — can receive a 250,000 yen ($2,779) subsidy under the country’s recently eased fuel-efficiency standards for imported cars.





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The change stems in part from criticism, particularly from Detroit automakers, that recent tax breaks and subsidies intended to spur sales of fuel-efficient cars in Japan unfairly excluded foreign brands. No American cars were eligible under Japan’s original cash-for-clunkers program, which began last year, while nine out of 10 Japanese-made vehicles received some form of tax break or subsidy. Japanese officials had said that Japanese-made cars were simply cleaner. American automakers argued, however, that Japan’s fuel-efficiency standards — which focus more on pollution at low speeds and in stop-and-go traffic — put foreign brands at a disadvantage.

Source: Hate your Prius? Live in Japan? Grab a Hummer 3, get a subsidy.