Report: Cash-for-Clunkers Trades Account for 7% of Hyundai Sales in First Week

Hyundai is the first automaker to start accepting trade-ins under the pending Cash-for-Clunkers legislation, and during the first week of trade-ins CARS (Car Allowance Rebate System) rebates have accounted for seven percent of all sales for Hyundai Motor America.

While the Cash-for-Clunkers incentives have yet to be finalized by the U.S. government, automakers have been given a guarantee that all CARS trade-ins would be honored retroactively until July 2nd. In the mean time, Hyundai corporate is offering its dealers loans to cover the difference so customers can walk away with a new Hyundai at a significantly reduced cost.

The CARS legislation 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.

The most popular CARS purchase at Hyundai is for the Elantra compact car (pictured above), which accounts for 41 percent of all CARS deals at Hyundai in the first week. One reason for this as that customers can walk away with an Elantra for just $8,620 after trade.

The Sonata mid-sized sedan is the next popular purchase. In total Hyundai has 13 vehicle/engine combinations that are eligible for rebates under the CARS legislation, including the 2010 Genesis Coupe 2.0T.

“The early response we’re seeing demonstrates the CARS program is working, with inefficient gas guzzlers being traded-in for fuel-efficient Hyundai models,” said Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik. “We expect overall sales from this program to grow as consumer awareness increases – it should surpass ten percent of our retail sales this month.”

As for the vehicles traded in, Hyundai’s data shows that 32 percent of all clunkers are Ford products, while 23 percent are Dodges. Surprisingly, the list of clunkers also includes models from such prestigious brands as Jaguar, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz.

Official release after the jump:

PRESS RELEASE

Hyundai Elantra Accounts for 41 Percent of CARS Deals; Ford Tops List of Clunkers, Comprising 32 Percent of Trade-ins

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., July 10, 2009; Hyundai became the first automaker to honor the government’s “Car Allowance Rebate System” (CARS) incentives on July 2 and the novel consumer incentive program, also known as “cash for clunkers,” accounted for seven percent of Hyundai sales in its first week. Nearly a third (32 percent) of the trade-in models reported by dealerships were Ford vehicles, followed by Dodge (23 percent). Lexus, Jaguar, and Mercedes-Benz are among the other brands delivered as “clunker” trades, demonstrating both the broad appeal of the government program, and the changing nature of Hyundai’s product line and buyer demographics. Hyundai’s rollout enables buyers to receive the full rebate allocated under the CARS program (also known as “cash for clunkers”) when an eligible trade-in is exchanged for a qualifying Hyundai model at a participating Hyundai dealership.

The fuel-efficient Hyundai Elantra was the most popular model purchased under the CARS program, making up 41 percent of sales. Elantra recently earned top honors in the 2009 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study for the highest initial quality in the compact car segment, and is a “Top Pick” from Consumer Reports. With manufacturer incentives and a full CARS rebate for a qualifying “clunker,” consumers can purchase a new Elantra for as little as $8,620. Sonata (29 percent) and Accent (16 percent) ranked second and third, respectively, in CARS transactions in the opening week.

“The early response we’re seeing demonstrates the CARS program is working, with inefficient gas guzzlers being traded-in for fuel-efficient Hyundai models,” said John Krafcik, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. “We expect overall sales from this program to grow as consumer awareness increases – it should surpass ten percent of our retail sales this month.”

Hyundai is the first automaker to extend the government incentive to consumers, accelerating its implementation by several weeks by backing dealerships with short-term cash advances as the government organizes the rollout of the program industry-wide. Under the CARS program, consumers qualify for a $4,500 rebate on the purchase or lease of new vehicles that achieve 10 miles per gallon more than a trade-in car or five miles per gallon or more than a trade-in light truck. New vehicles that achieve between 4 to 9 mpg more than a trade-in car, or 2 to 4 mpg more than a trade-in light truck qualify for a $3,500 incentive. See www.cars.gov for complete details.

Thirteen Hyundai models and engine combinations qualify for the CARS incentive program, which requires passenger cars achieve 22 mpg or more combined fuel economy, and light trucks achieve 18 mpg or better combined fuel economy.

— Accent
— Elantra
— Elantra Touring
— Entourage
— Sonata 2.4L
— Sonata 3.3L
— 2010 Genesis Coupe 2.0L
— Tiburon 2.0L
— Tucson 2.0L
— Tucson 2.7L
— Santa Fe 2.7L
— Santa Fe 3.3L
— Veracruz

Five Hyundai models achieve 30 miles per gallon or more on the highway -Accent, Elantra, Elantra Touring, Genesis Coupe 2.0L and Sonata 2.4L. Hyundai ranks third in corporate average fuel economy according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, so consumers will realize further cost savings by stepping into a more fuel-efficient model than they currently drive.

The CARS incentive program complements all existing special incentives and financing options from the manufacturer, including Hyundai Assurance, which allows consumers to return their vehicle if they unexpectedly lose their income, and Hyundai Assurance Gas Lock, which offers a year’s worth of gas at a guaranteed price of $1.49 per gallon. Visit www.HyundaiAssurance.com for details.