The four-wheel-drive Ford Explorer topped the list of clunkers traded in under the Car Allowance Rebate System.

Ford vehicles appeared five times on the Cash for Clunkers top ten trade-in vehicles list released by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The four-wheel-drive Explorer was number one with the two-wheel-drive version at number four.

The Ford F150 also appeared twice on the list, with the 2WD pickup at number two and the 4WD F-150 at number nine.

Chrysler vehicles appeared on the list three times, thanks to the Jeep Grand Cherokee (#3), Jeep Cherokee (#6) and the Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan (#5).

A pair of Chevys filled out the top ten with the Blazer at seven followed by the 1500 pickup at eight.

According to the DOT, 84% of trade-ins were trucks. The clunkers traded in under the program had an average fuel economy of 15.8 mpg compared to the 24.9 mpg average for new vehicles purchased.

[Source: DOT]

The Cash for Clunkers program has come to an end and its impact can now be evaluated.

According to U.S. Department of Transportation, dealers submitted 690,114 transactions under the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), more commonly known as Cash-for-Clunkers. Those rebate applications account for $2.877 billion out of the $3 billion approved by Congress.

That number may rise considerably, however, as rejected filings are resubmitted. The DOT has said that filings approved after last nights deadline will be reimbursed. The DOT reported several issues with its servers approaching the deadline, which may account the fact that only $229 million in claims were filed during the last 36 hours of the program, while over the previous weekend $611 million in claims were filed.

A preliminary analysis by the White House Council of Economic Advisers says the CARS program boosted economic growth in the third quarter of 2009 by 0.3-0.4 percent, will help sustain an increased fourth quarter GDP and create or save 42,000 jobs in the second half of 2009.

“American consumers and workers were the clear winners thanks to the cash for clunkers program,” says U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Manufacturing plants have added shifts and recalled workers. Moribund showrooms were brought back to life and consumers bought fuel efficient cars that will save them money and improve the environment.”

Ford and General Motors recently announced production increases for the second half of the year due to the demand generated by the CARS program. Honda also said it will increase production at its plants in East Liberty and Marysville, Ohio, and in Lincoln, Ala.

“This is one of the best economic news stories we’ve seen and I’m proud we were able to give consumers a helping hand,” said LaHood.

[Source: DOT and Automotive News]

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), offering incentives for trade-ins, should have enough funding to support one more weekend of sales. Earlier this month, the U.S. government pumped $2 billion into the program on top of the original $1 billion in funding. At the time, LaHood estimated the total $3 billion in funding would last until Labor Day. Looks like LaHood was off by a couple of weeks.

LaHood said there are no plans to expand the program again, but some representatives, including Democrat Sander Levin or Royal Oak, Mich.,  say Congress should add another $1 billion into the program.

[Source: The Detroit News]

The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) has asked the U.S. government to suspend the Cash-for-Clunkers program immediately as it believes the $3 billion in earmarked funds have already been used up.

NADA Chairman John McEleney told Automotive News that based on a survey of its dealers it believes the $3 billion in funding could be used up as of today. But according to the Transportation Department, only 411,624 claims have been filed, accounting for a total of $1,72 billion. The difference says McEleny is due to rejected claims that have yet to be re-submittted.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, has said that the $3 billion should last until Labor day, but NADA’s track record is also pretty good, as the group was the one to raise the alarm that the initial $1 billion in funding, intended to run for several months had dried up in just two weeks.

Earlier in the week LaHood said that the Transportation Department is readying a plan to wind-down the Cash-for-Clunkers program, commenting that even if the fund dries up, the dealers will still be reimbursed.

[Source: Automotive News]

In a sign that the Cash-for-Clunkers program is working and that car sales are finally starting to turn a corner, General Motors has announced that it is increasing production and adding overtime shifts at several plants.

Shifts will be added at GM’s CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada and at the Lordstown, Ohio plant. The Lordstown facility is responsible for assembly of the Chevy Cobalt, while the Ingersoll facility is home to the GMC Terrain and the all new 2010 Chevrolet Equinox (pictured above).

The added shifts means General Motors will bring 1,350 employees back on the job.

Earlier this month Gm added overtime shifts at its Arlington, Texas plant where the Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon are made.

The total production increase is said to be roughly 60,000 units, a move deemed necessary by General Motors to ensure its dealers have an appropriate number of vehicles on their lots after a surge in sales following the recent Cash-for-Clunkers legislation saw dealer inventories hit their lowest point since 1991.

[Source: Automotive News]

A week after reports that the original $1 billion allocated for the Cash-for-Clunkers program was running low, President Obama today signed into law an additional $2 billion that will keep the program running and fuel a rebounding auto industry.

In just two weeks since the original bill was passed the Cash-for-Clunkers or CARS (Car Allowance Rebate System) has netted $920 million in rebates and has accounted for more than 220,000 new car sales.

The boost to the auto industry has prompted speculation that total car sales for the year, which only a few months ago were pegged at under 10 million, will now exceed the 13 million unit mark.

Automakers are also looking to boost production output as inventory levels have dropped to their lowest levels since 1992. Measured in the number of days worth of inventory a dealer has on its lot, Chrysler dropped its inventory from 71 to 40 days, Ford shed 9 days (from 57 to 48) while both GM and Toyota lost 18 days, from 82 to 64 and 47 to 29 respectively.

[Source: Automotive News 1 and 2]

Audi will offer an additional $1,000 off any vehicle that also meets the requirements for a Cash-for-Clunkers rebate. This means customers could save up to $5,500 off the price of a new Audi.

Eligible vehicles for the CARS (Car Allowance Rebate System) rebate include hatchbacks, sedans, convertibles, crossovers and even sports cars. Notable models include the Audi A3, the new 2009 Audi A4, the TT (both Coupe and Roadster) and the new Q5 crossover.

“The CARS reimbursement enacted by Congress is a tremendous opportunity for consumers interested in upgrading to vehicles that offer better fuel efficiency and reduced emissions,” said Mark Del Rosso, Chief Operating Officer at Audi of America. “Now that some uncertainties surrounding the launch of this federal program have been cleared up the time is right to enhance the deal even further.”

Audi is awaiting official EPA ratings on the fuel-efficiency of its 2010 models to see if they will also be eligible for both the Audi and Cash-for-Clunkers discounts.

See the full list of eligible models after the jump:

Audi CARS Allowance incentive program adds $1,000 to August vehicle sales eligible for federal ‘Cash for Clunkers’ rebates

HERNDON, Va., Aug 5, 2009  -  Audi today affirmed an August consumer sales offer that adds a $1,000 incentive to transactions eligible for the federal government’s “Cars Allowance Rebate System” reimbursement program, more commonly known as “Cars for Clunkers.”

The $1,000 consumer incentive is valid on transactions from today to August 31 and applies to Audi models ranging from the 2009 Audi A3 to the 2009 Audi TT Roadster quattro. A table of all eligible Audi models for the CARS program and the Audi CARS Allowance incentive campaign follows. Not all 2009 Audi models are eligible for the CARS program. The federal government has not ruled on which 2010 models will be eligible under the program. As offered in July, special 60 month APR and Lease terms through Audi Financial Services are also available to complement the CARS program.

“The CARS reimbursement enacted by Congress is a tremendous opportunity for consumers interested in upgrading to vehicles that offer better fuel efficiency and reduced emissions,” said Mark Del Rosso, Chief Operating Officer, Audi of America. ” Now that some uncertainties surrounding the launch of this federal program have been cleared up the time is right to enhance the deal even further.”

*Note – MY 10 vehicles are currently being evaluated for inclusion into the CARS program once the EPA has determined their official MPG ratings.

With the current state of affairs in the auto industry, smaller than expected losses have been cause to celebrate, so imagine the party the folks over at Ford must be having right now as the company announced today that it actually posted a sales gain.

Last month Ford’s 10 percent loss was seen as a sign that Ford is on the right track and that the economy might just be recovering. This month the American automaker posted a two percent increase compared to the same month a year earlier. But that number doesn’t even tell the whole story as retail sales were actually up nine percent. Less impressive fleet sales (notorious for low profit margins) curbed that number down to two percent.

As a sign that Ford is not only fighting off this recession, but that the automaker is actually producing products that consumers want to buy, this sales gain is the first since November 2007.

Ford’s sales and marketing VP Ken Czubay credited the company’s fuel-efficient vehicles, combined with the government’s Cash-for-Clunkers program for the positive results. “We had another strong month in progress before the ‘Cash for Clunkers’ program started,” he said. “Our products, our dealers and our advance preparation enabled us to leverage the program and drive traffic and sales to another level. In addition, we achieved a sales increase even though we decreased incentive spending in an increasingly competitive environment.”

Particularly successful models for Ford included the Fusion, Escape, Ranger and Flex. Fusion sales were up 66 percent; Escape sales were up 94 percent; while Ranger and Flex sales were both up 65 percent over a year ago. In addition Ford saw a drastic increase in the number of customers opting for hybrids, with Ford’s hybrid lineup (including the Fusion, Milan, Escape and Mariner) posting an increase of 323 percent.

Official release after the jump:

FORD’S NEW FUEL-EFFICIENT VEHICLES PLUS “CASH FOR CLUNKERS” PROGRAM DRIVE SALES INCREASE IN JULY

• Ford, Lincoln and Mercury retail sales increased 9 percent versus a year ago; total sales (including fleet) were 158,838, up 2 percent versus a year ago
• Ford is first among major manufacturers to report sales increase in 2009; year-over-year total sales gain is the first for Ford since November 2007
• Ford’s fuel-efficient vehicles pace July sales results – Ford Fusion up 66 percent, Mercury Milan up 60 percent, Ford Escape up 94 percent, Mercury Mariner up 71 percent, Ford Focus up 44 percent and Ford Ranger up 65 percent; Ford hybrid sales up 323 percent
• Ford was first to market with “Cash for Clunkers” website; more than 1 million consumers guided bywww.LetFordRecycleYourRide.com
• First 2010 model Ford Taurus and Transit Connect models were delivered to U.S. customers in July

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 3, 2009 – Customer demand for Ford’s fuel-efficient vehicles coupled with the U.S. government’s Car Allowance Rebate System (“Cash for Clunkers”) enabled Ford to post the first sales increase of any major manufacturer in 2009.

Ford, Lincoln and Mercury dealers reported 118,197 retail sales in July, up 9 percent versus a year ago.  Total sales (including fleet customer deliveries) were 158,838, up 2 percent versus last year.

“We had another strong month in progress before the ‘Cash for Clunkers’ program started,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service.

“Our products, our dealers and our advance preparation enabled us to leverage the program and drive traffic and sales to another level,” he added.  “In addition, we achieved a sales increase even though we decreased incentive spending in an increasingly competitive environment.”

July Sales Highlights

• Ford Fusion sales totaled 17,610, a July record and up 66 percent versus a year ago, and Mercury Milan sales were up 60 percent.  The 2010 model Fusion and Milan and their hybrid versions are the most fuel-efficient mid-size sedans in America.
• Ford Escape sales totaled 20,241, a July record and up 94 percent versus a year ago, and Mercury Mariner sales were up 71 percent.  The 2009 model Escape Hybrid and Mariner Hybrid are the most fuel-efficient utility vehicles in America.
• Ford Focus sales totaled 21,830, up 44 percent versus a year ago.  The Focus is among the most fuel-efficient compact cars in America with an EPA highway rating of 35 mpg.
• Ford Ranger sales totaled 7,695, up 65 percent versus a year ago.  The Ranger is the most fuel-efficient compact pickup in America.
• Ford Flex sales totaled 3,631, up 65 percent versus a year ago.  The Flex is among the most fuel-efficient mid-size crossover utilities in America.
• Ford’s hybrid vehicles (Fusion, Milan, Escape and Mariner) posted combined sales of 5,353, a record for any month and up 323 percent versus a year ago.

“We have the freshest line of new products in the industry,” said Czubay.  “We’re really encouraged by the growing number of consumers who are considering Ford for their next vehicle.”

Internal and external studies show a positive trend in the percentage of consumers with favorable opinions about Ford, and growing numbers of consumers who are willing to consider purchasing a Ford vehicle, thanks to improved fuel economy, smart technology and higher residual values.

More new products are on the way.  The first new 2010 Ford Taurus sedans were delivered at the end of July, as well as the first Transit Connects.

The all-new Taurus is the smartest full-size sedan in America.  The Transit Connect, a small, fuel-efficient purpose-built van, is the first ONE Ford global vehicle to be sold in the United States.

This summer, Ford also will debut its EcoBoost engine technology in the Taurus SHO, Lincoln MKS, Ford Flex and all-new Lincoln MKT crossover vehicle.  In these vehicles, EcoBoost provides the fuel economy of a six-cylinder engine and the performance of a V-8.

With the U.S. government’s Cash-for-Clunkers rebate now available, Nissan is improving the fuel-economy of its cars to increase the chances that you’ll qualify for the full $4,500 at one of its dealerships.

The CARS (Car Allowance Rebate System) program works by giving a $3,500 or $4,500 voucher towards a new car when it gets 4 mpg or 10 mpg (respectively) more than the vehicle being traded in.

One vehicle that has already received some fuel-efficiency revisions in the Sentra, which reportedly gets a short list of minor modifications to improve overall fuel-economy by 1 mpg. That may not sound like much, but every small 1 mpg step means a lot of three and nine mpg differences just became four and 10 mpg differences and Nissan just attracted a lot of new bargain-hunting customers.

The revised Sentra is currently being evaluated by the EPA and Nissan will no doubt send out an official press release once the new fuel-economy rating has been approved.

[Source: Automotive News via Autoblog]

If you’ve been trying to decide whether or not to trade in your gas guzzler on a new fuel-efficient model and cash in on the government’s $4,500 CARS rebate, you’ve waited too long. The program, funded with 1 billion dollars of tax payers’ money is already running low – just six days after the Obama Administration officially launched it.

According to the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), by the end of the Wednesday work day dealers had submitted 22,782 claims for a total of $95.5 million. 

At that rate the program will run out of money long before the planned CARS (Car Allowance Rebate System) expiration date of November 1st. Reuters cites Bailey Wood, a spokesman for the National Automobile Dealers Association, who speculates the program will run out of funding before the date.

The Cash-for-Clunkers legislation had been criticized heavily before being passed for not being sufficiently funded. 

The good news out of this is that if the CARS rebate system is used up (early or not) it is expected to generate as many as 250,000 car sales – something which should help speed up an economy that already shows signs of recovering.

Reuters cites an unnamed inside government source for the tip, who says the CARS program wil be suspended shortly. There is no word on if there are plans to find additional funding and re-instate Cash-for-Clunkers at a later date.

[Source: Automotive News]

In a bid to get inventory moving out of showrooms in a hurry, Chrysler has decided to offer a new incentive program that would double the value of the government’s cash-for-clunkers program.

Chrysler will offer $4,500 off (or 0 percent financing for 72 months) on most of its 2009 inventory – excluding the Dodge Challenger, Sprinter, Jeep Wrangler and all SRT products. The $4,500 incentive is even available on vehicles that do not meet the requirements for the cash-for-clunkers program, which was recently signed off on by President Obama.

Cash-for-Clunkers, or CARS (Car Allowance Rebate System) gives a $4,500 rebate on a new car when it gets 10 mpg or more better fuel mileage than the one traded in. The rebate is $3,500 on vehicles that get 4 to 9 mpg better or trucks that get 2 to 4 mpg better.

Chrysler, now under new leadership from Italian automaker Fiat is hoping the incentive will help sales rebound. Chrysler has been hit particularly hard this year with sales down 45.7 percent for the first six months.

When combined, these two offers mean a $17,090, Dodge Caliber SE could leave showrooms for as little as $8,090.

Chrysler’s “Double Ca$h for Your Old Car,” incentive starts tomorrow and runs through August.

[Source: Automotive News]

After passing through both the Senate and the House, the Cash-for-Guzzlers bill has been signed by President Obama. Known also as Cash-for-Clunkers, the official name of the legislation is CARS – the Car Allowance Rebate System.

Vehicles that are traded in must get 18 mpg or worse and be newer than 25 years old. For those who trade in their guzzler for a vehicle that gets (on average) 4 mpg more will receive a $3,500 voucher toward the new car, while those who choose a vehicle that gets 10 mpg more than their current auto will receive the full $4,500.

The rules are slightly different for trucks as the full $4,500 voucher will be available for gas guzzling trucks when traded in on a new truck that gets 5 mpg more.

The hope is that this new legislation will boost auto sales. Similar initiatives (but which target old cars and not gas guzzling ones) have been a huge success in countries like German.

The CARS act will take effect at the end of July.

Those looking for more info can visit the CARS website here:

http://www.cars.gov/

[Source: Automotive News via Autoblog]