European car scrapping schemes proving successful, Germany to extend program
Last month, Germany posted a whopping 40 percent increase in new car sales, an improvement over February's 21.5% gain that is again being attributed to that country's vehicle scrapping program. Similar programs in Italy and France have also reversed the trend of falling sales figures.
The success of the scrapping scheme in Germany has prompted the government to extend the program at least until May, with the goal of establishing funding to let it run through the rest of the year. Similar programs are expected in the United Kingdom.
Legislators in the United States has also picked up on the idea, introducing a bill that would pay buyers of vehicles made in North America up to $5,000 to trade in their older car. President Obama later indicated that his administration was interested in adopting a program to stimulate new car sales. The bill has been met with plenty of opposition, though, and nothing has so far passed through to law.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd | Photo: dave_7]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sir.Vix 1:39PM (4/05/2009)
Looks like a few germans who used this program hadn't gotten a new car in a REALLY long time.
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Swede 7:04PM (4/05/2009)
Cars are expensive investments not purchased lightly, those with little interest in cars don't change cars unless they have to (failed MOT, kids etc..).
Sir.Vix 4:02PM (4/10/2009)
my comment was sarcasm and based on the picture at the top of the article ;)
Noz 2:01PM (4/05/2009)
I was planning on scrapping my car regardless....but it would be nice to get some money for it.
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matthijs 3:20PM (4/05/2009)
Also the Dutch government is implementing a scrapping program. €1000,- for your car older then 1996 for a gas car or 2000 for a diesel. €750,- if your gas car is older then 1990. (Those diesels are running much longer then that) The car has to be in your possession and registered to you for a year. So before March of 2008. The car has to have a valid MOT/APK/DMV etc. (Road legal) for 3 months.
But this is not all. The car you buy has to be younger then 2001 and a diesel car must have an particulate filter.
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matthijs 3:24PM (4/05/2009)
Also the Dutch government is implementing a scrapping program. €1000,- for your car older then 1996 for a gas car or 2000 for a diesel. €750,- if your gas car is older then 1990. (Those diesels are running much longer then that) The car has to be in your possession and registered to you for a year. So before March of 2008. The car has to have a valid MOT/APK/DMV etc. (Road legal) for 3 months.
But this is not all. The car you buy has to be younger then 2001 and a diesel car must have an particulate filter.
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MikeInNC 8:13AM (4/06/2009)
I wish this was an engine turn in program and not a car turn in program. I'd love to see old cars getting new engines/emissions updates while preserving the old body styles. Hate to see a bunch of interesting cars go to the crusher.
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Kumar 9:53AM (4/06/2009)
Would love to see this kicked to the state level with all of the negative press it's been gettings.
States that check emmissions to determine a car's road worthiness could get in on the deal. Those that don't....tough luck.
I see entirely too many vehicles on the road in Indiana that should be scrapped for safety and emissions issues.
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lowmilelude 3:23PM (4/06/2009)
You know, I did a little digging on this at fueleconomy.gov. I did a pretty simple search of family sedans, SUV's, and wagons that get better than 27mpg highway. I filtered out FWD, just for fun - and came up with nearly NOTHING American save for the Jepp Patriot and Compass (ugh). If I leave the FWD vehicles in, I see the Ford Fusion variants (Milan, etc), and the Acura TSX. Of course, if they include vehicles assembled here, we might get tax credits for some Honda/Acura models.
The vast majority of these family-sized vehicles that got 27mpg or better on the highway? BMW 328/528, Lexus GS350/IS250, Audi A4 variants, Subaru Outback/Legacy/Impreza/Forrester.
So essentially, outside of subcompacts, it seems there are probably less than five vehicles on the market that would qualify for this bill as it stands. Yippee.
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