How the 'Cash for Clunkers' Plan Would Help New-Car Buyers
The CARS Act would give buyers up to $5,000 back. Here's the list of vehicles that would qualify
Auto industry and congressional supporters of legislation to reward people who trade in clunkers for new, fuel-efficient vehicles are looking to build pressure on the administration to back it.
The legislation, H.R. 1550, would pay up to $5,000 for trading in a vehicle at least eight years old. "It's a triple winner," said a Detroit executive based in Washington. "It helps the economy, it saves fuel and oil, and it helps the environment."
So far, the administration hasn't aired an opinion on the Cash for Clunkers legislation, also called the CARS Act, though the president's auto task force has indicated support. It has the backing of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the UAW, and most automakers.
Those pushing the legislation said that they plan to step up pressure on the administration to back it, especially as the industry looks a week ahead to reporting historically poor sales figures for March autos. "Sales reports will be pretty miserable," said the executive.
The supporters are considering advocacy ads and plan to highlight comparable programs unveiled overseas. In Germany, for example, a similar program has boosted auto sales by 20 percent for American carmakers.
The CARS Act would cover about five to 10 fuel-efficient cars and trucks from each North American carmaker or assembler in the program. The following companies would be included: General Motors, Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota, and Volkswagen.
Vehicles expected to meet the CARS Act fuel-efficiency requirements:
- Chevrolet: Aveo, Cobalt, Colorado, Equinox, HHR, Malibu, Malibu Hybrid, Traverse
- Chrysler: PT Cruiser, Sebring, Town & Country
- Dodge: Avenger, Caliber, Caravan, Journey
- Ford: Edge, Escape, Escape Hybrid, Flex, Focus, Fusion, Fusion Hybrid, Ranger, Taurus
- Honda: Accord, Civic, CR-V, Element, Odyssey
- Hyundai: Santa Fe, Sonata
- Jeep: Compass, Patriot
- Mazda: B-Series, Mazda 6, Tribute, Tribute Hybrid
- Mercury: Milan
- Mitsubishi: Eclipse, Galant, Outlander
- Nissan: Altima, Quest, Sentra, Versa
- Pontiac: G6, Solstice, Vibe
- Saturn: Vue
- Toyota: Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Highlander, RAV4, Tacoma, Venza
- Volkswagen: Jetta
Reader Comments
cash for clunkers
were are the cars going after the dealer / govorment buys them? is it like the gm thing were they almost secretly got hauled away and crushed? im talking about what happened in the 80s on the electric car. thanx bill.
right on ariana
it's allways the people who make bad choices in life and screw themselves up and the usa and the whole global machine who get the rewards and bail outs and help and support in life, do the right thing and you get it right up the arse. right on ariana WHAT A CRACKPOT SOCIETY WE LIVE IN.i can go on and on but i think i'll just have another beer and chill out. maybe i'll get nice and stupified and drunk, since that seems to be the way our government and society functions now a days, maybe i can understand it all better with a few cold ones, common sense is out the door in the usa, our country wants people to be and act stupid, just like our republicans and democrats with all thier stupid ideas and stupid smiles, im sick of them all. take care of your loved ones and yourself, want true change vote independant or don't vote at all. bye thanks 4 another gov. program that gives it right up the arse.
right on ariana
it's allways the people who make bad choices in life and screw themselves up and the usa and the whole global machine who get the rewards and bail outs and help and support in life, do the right thing and you get it right up the arse. right on ariana WHAT A CRACKPOT SOCIETY WE LIVE IN.i can go on and on but i think i'll just have another beer and chill out. maybe i'll get nice and stupified and drunk, since that seems to be the way our government and society functions now a days, maybe i can understand it all better with a few cold ones, common sense is out the door in the usa, our country wants people to be and act stupid, just like our republicans and democrats with all thier stupid ideas and stupid smiles, im sick of them all. take care of your loved ones and yourself, want true change vote independant or don't vote at all. bye thanks 4 another gov. program that gives it right up the arse.
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