Used-Car Dealers: Program's a Clunker

(NEWSER) - Cash for Clunkers revved into overdrive during its final weekend, the New York Times reports. After Thursday’s announcement that the Car Allowance Rebate System would end tomorrow at 8pm, consumers across the country raced to dealerships, resulting in long lines, epic haggling sessions, and hours of overtime work. “Everybody who was thinking about it is rushing through the door,” a salesman says. “The only problem is we’re running out of cars.” More»

(NEWSER) - Last week's rush of demand for new cars may may have exhausted the $1 billion earmarked for the "cash for clunkers" program, but struggling auto dealers saw their sales zoom, reports Reuters. Though exact figures aren't yet available, the program was certain to drive car sales to the highest levels of the year, beyond 10 million on an annualized basis, AutoNation estimates. One analyst predicted a new annualized sales rate of up to 13 million vehicles. More»

Trade in program generated roughly 542,000 sales

(NEWSER) - Cash for Clunkers was far more effective than anyone is giving it credit for, says a new study from Maritz Automotive Research Group. In their survey, 90% of program participants say they wouldn’t have purchased a new car without the government incentive—a far higher percentage than previous estimates. The group also notes that, while sales dipped immediately after the program ended, they remained higher than they had been before it. More»

Hyundai surges 47%; GM drops 20% and Chrysler 17%

(NEWSER) - Cash for Clunkers reverberated through August auto sales reports released today, with Ford and Hyundai scoring big jumps, the Wall Street Journal reports. The winners and losers:

• Ford's light vehicle sales rose 17% year-over-year, with the Focus and Escape both in the top eight most popular vehicles purchased through the Clunkers program.
• Hyundai's sales surged 47%.

(NEWSER) - Just as the "cash for clunkers" program sparked a boom in auto sales, its cancellation will likely depress the industry, CNNMoney reports. As of today, the last day of the government-funded incentive, rebate applications for 625,000 trade-ins totaling $2.58 billion had been submitted. “We're definitely going to have a hangover,” a dealer says. “I think you're going to be able to shoot a cannon through here and not hurt anybody.” More»