BAT Touts Sponsorship of State Bill

BAT International Inc., a controversial auto technology company, said it has successfully lobbied to have a state Senate bill introduced that exempts fuel-efficient and zero-emission cars from sales taxes. Sen. Jack O’Connell (D-San Luis Obispo) last week introduced SB 2107, which would eliminate sales tax on vehicles that run at least 64 miles per gallon and are purchased between 1999 and 2002. The senator found merit in the BAT-sponsored bill, O’Connell aide Gavin Payne said, adding that O’Connell has supported other bills that offered “market-driven” solutions to environmental problems. “We brought the bill to him and told him what we wanted,” said Joe LaStella, president of the Burbank-based BAT, which is under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission. LaStella contends the probe was prompted by the erratic prices and high-volume trading of BAT stock earlier this month. Earlier this month, BAT reported that a car outfitted with its “pulse-engine” technology averaged 93.7 mpg in three test runs. BAT shares rose 1 cent to 71 cents a share on the Nasdaq Bulletin Board.