Scrappage incentive market reversals loom

Automotive markets all around the world are getting a lift from government subsidies to car purchase and they come obligingly dressed up in a light green cloak. New for old. There's not necessarily anything wrong with that. If car markets are stimulated and the car parc gets a little less dirty in the process, it looks like most people are happy.

COMMENT: Beware of scrappage-induced mirage

7 September 2009

UK: W. Europe car market up 7.1% in August

7 September 2009

Car sales in Western Europe grew by 7.1% in August according to data released by JD Power.

US: Clunkers reimbursement boost promised

4 September 2009

The US government plans to speed up the pace of processing up to US$3bn in "cash for clunkers" reimbursements to auto dealers and hopes to complete the job by the end of the month, officials have said.

US: August light vehicle sales rise almost 5%

2 September 2009

Did the 690,000 new vehicles put on US roads by the 'cash for clunkers' government incentive scheme boost sales in August? You bet. The industry booked its first rise in almost two years – 4.9% to 1,258,944 units, according to WardsAuto.com, which adjusts for selling days.

US: Jury still out on 'Cash for Clunkers' – SAA

2 September 2009

The August market may have provided a bright spot in a dismal year for US vehicle sales, but whether this is the start of a positive trend or merely a temporary spike followed by a downturn, remains to be seen, according to the Society of Automotive Analysts (SAA).

US: Ford expects August sales rise

1 September 2009

Ford expects to report a rise in US vehicle sales for August and its top sales analyst suggested the industry might post its first monthly year on year rise since October 2007.

THE WEEK THAT WAS: After the clunkers party, the sales hangover?

28 August 2009

After spending US$3bn of other people's money - that of the taxpayers of America - on the CARS, or 'cash for clunkers' incentives designed to wheedle people out of ancient, gas-guzzling antiques, it was little wonder the Department of Transportation was bullish over the circa-700,000 sales made through the scheme in barely three weeks.

US: August sales seen off just 6% year on year

28 August 2009

This month's US new vehicle sales are expected to be around 1.17m units, almost 6% down from August 2008 but up about 18% from July 2009, according to Edmunds.com.

US: CARS takes almost 700,000 'clunkers' off the road

27 August 2009

The taxpayer-funded CARS ('cash for clunkers') programme that ended on Tuesday replaced nearly 700,000 clunkers with “far more fuel efficient vehicles”, according to the US Department of Transportation.

US: Hangover seen after clunkers party

27 August 2009

The 'cash for clunkers' party is over with the ending of the $3bn taxpayer-funded incentive, which the government said had accounted for about 690,000 sales, and now the auto industry is likely to experience a painful hangover, analysts and buyers guide publisher Edmunds.com said last night. It anticipates a steep decline in sales in the coming weeks based upon a significant drop in 'purchase intent' behaviour of its website visitors.