Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[STUDY: Cash for Clunkers helped Japanese way more than Detroit 3]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/13/study-cash-for-clunkers-helped-japanese-way-more-than-detroit-3/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/13/study-cash-for-clunkers-helped-japanese-way-more-than-detroit-3/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/13/study-cash-for-clunkers-helped-japanese-way-more-than-detroit-3/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



While there is no question that Obama's Cash-for-Clunkers program accelerated vehicle sales this summer, a new report by the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute shows the big winners were from Japan, not Detroit.

According to the study, nearly 85 percent of the trade-ins were from General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler, yet they only sold 39 percent of the new cars moved off the lots. On the other hand, 8 percent of the trade-ins came from Toyota, Honda, and Nissan, manufacturers who accounted for 41 percent of new car purchases.

While these numbers may be justified by the large quantity of inefficient domestic trucks and SUVs that were deemed clunkers, customer loyalty also seems to have taken a big shift. About 68 percent of owners who traded in Toyota, Honda, or Nissan vehicles replaced them with another from one of those Japanese brands, while only 43 percent of consumers who traded in Detroit steel purchased another General Motors, Ford, or Chrysler product. The program cost the U.S. taxpayers about $3 billion.

[Source: USA Today | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]

STUDY: Cash for Clunkers helped Japanese way more than Detroit 3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto salvageAutoSalvagebillionCash for ClunkersCashForClunkersCFCcostObamasalvagetrade-intrade-insFri, 13 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Autoblog Podcast #151: With Eddie Alterman of <i> Car and Driver </i>]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/03/autoblog-podcast-151-with-eddie-alterman-of-car-and-driver/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/03/autoblog-podcast-151-with-eddie-alterman-of-car-and-driver/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/03/autoblog-podcast-151-with-eddie-alterman-of-car-and-driver/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,


Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Abuelsamid, Lieberman, Roth and Shunk. Sounds like a law firm, but it's this week's podcast crew. Car and Driver editor-in-chief Eddie Alterman bravely wades into the pool and joins us for Episode #151 of the Autoblog Podcast, as well.

We spend a goodly amount of time going over what's in all five garages this week, before picking up actual topics. Once into news, we move through the Honda Accord Crosstour's pricing and impending launch, Ford's profitable quarter and union dealings, Edmunds' dust-up with the White House, and wrap with what might be cool at the crazy automotive cavalcade that is SEMA. It's an hour and twenty minutes of rollicking good times, so let us know what you think by dropping us an email at Podcast at Autoblog dot com, reviewing the show in iTunes, filling out our survey, or even leaving us a voicemail on our Google Voice line 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763). Thanks for listening, we'll see you next week!

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #151: With Eddie Alterman of Car and Driver

Autoblog Podcast #151: With Eddie Alterman of Car and Driver originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoblog podcastAutoblogPodcastcar and drivercar driverCarAndDriverCarDrivercash for clunkersCashForClunkerseddie altermanEddieAltermanedmundsedmunds white houseEdmundsWhiteHouseFord salesford sales gainFord sales resultsford uawFordSalesFordSalesGainFordSalesResultsFordUawpodcastSEMAsema 2009Sema2009Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:50:00 ESTAutoblog Podcast #151Autoblog1:20:42autoblog podcast, eddie alterman, car & driver, alterman, sema, uaw, ford, ford uaw, edmunds, cash for clunkers<![CDATA[Empire Strikes Back: White House calls out Edmunds on Clunkers story, Edmunds responds]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/30/empire-strikes-back-white-house-calls-out-edmunds-on-clunkers-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/30/empire-strikes-back-white-house-calls-out-edmunds-on-clunkers-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/30/empire-strikes-back-white-house-calls-out-edmunds-on-clunkers-s/#commentsFiled under: ,



The facts in the case of the White House versus Edmunds are essentially indisputable - but they are open for interpretation. The federal government's $3 billion Cash for Clunkers program generated 690,000 sales by providing $3,500 and $4,500 vouchers to car buyers who turned in their eligible car or truck in exchange for a more fuel efficient ride. From here on in, Edmunds and the White House seem to be at considerable odds.

Edmunds recently claimed that its statistical analysis shows that only 125,000 of the nearly 700,000 vehicles purchased under C4C were sales that wouldn't have come in 2009 if it weren't for the much ballyhooed government program. And since the program cost $3 billion to implement, Edmunds came to the conclusion that each incremental sale achieved by C4C cost taxpayers $24,000 per vehicle. As you might imagine, the White House has a problem with that.

The White House starts its quite literally otherworldly retort by noting that that motor vehicle sales increased America's overall economic growth in the third quarter by 1.7%. That's the industry's largest contribution to that metric in over a decade. The WH blog post then states that Edmunds is ignoring the assertion that overall car sales were also positively affected by the Clunkers program above and beyond the 690,000 C4C units sold. To add insult to assault, the White House accuses Edmunds of covering auto sales on Mars.

While the government doesn't have hard facts here, anecdotal evidence certainly shows that August's seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 14 million cars and trucks sold means there were considerably more sales generated by C4C than the 125,000 number would suggest. The WH blog also notes that analysts from Global Insight and Moody's suggest that there has been little payback from the Clunkers program.

The White House also states that C4C will have benefits beyond the third quarter, as production has been bumped at Chrysler, General Motors, Ford and Honda in the fourth quarter. That should mean that GDP will get still another big shot in the arm from the auto industry. The White House then goes on to add that C4C generated 70,000 jobs. We're tempted to call shenanigans on that one, especially considering that divvying up $3 billion between 70,000 jobs only comes out to $42,857 per - and that doesn't account for the actual cars themselves.

Edmunds CEO Jeremy Anwyl took time to respond to the suddenly hostile situation, arguing that government subsidy programs are always expensive when looked at on a per-unit basis. Edmunds adds that it is strictly working with the facts to come up with the $24,000 per vehicle number, and that anecdotal evidence like indirect sales isn't based on concrete data.

[Sources: White House Blogs; Edmunds Auto Observer | Image: Gabriel Bouys/Getty]

Empire Strikes Back: White House calls out Edmunds on Clunkers story, Edmunds responds originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>c4ccash for clunkersCashForClunkersclunkersedmundswhite houseWhiteHouseFri, 30 Oct 2009 13:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Edmunds: Cash for Clunkers cost taxpayers $24k per car, not $4k]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/29/edmunds-cash-for-clunkers-cost-taxpayers-24k-per-car-not-4k/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/29/edmunds-cash-for-clunkers-cost-taxpayers-24k-per-car-not-4k/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/29/edmunds-cash-for-clunkers-cost-taxpayers-24k-per-car-not-4k/#commentsFiled under: ,

Cash for Clunkers vehicles - Click above for high-res image gallery

There is little doubt that Cash for Clunkers gave auto sales a big boost in late July and most of August, but there has been considerable debate as to how much help taxpayers' $3 billion provided. Customers who purchased a new car or truck were rewarded in many ways, especially when you consider the U.S. government paid out a median price of about $4,000 per clunker. Those customers are also saving at the pump, as each car turned in was 4-10 mpg better than the vehicle it replaced. Dealers sold more cars. States received more tax dollars. So the program was a success, right?

If you believe the statistical analysis of Edmunds, perhaps the program wasn't so terrific after all. The industry research juggernaut claims that of the 690,000 vehicles sold under the program, only 125,000 of those sales went to people who weren't going to purchase a new car in 2009. The result, says Edmunds, is that the $3 billion spent for C4C ended up spurring only 125,000 sales at a cost of $24,000 per vehicle. Further, Edmunds claims that October's sales would have ramped up even more than what current projections indicate.

There doesn't seem to be too many industry experts who disagree with Edmunds' assessment that the Clunkers program only generated 125,000 additional sales, but C4C wasn't just about selling cars and trucks. Ford industry guru George Pipas told CNN Money that the Blue Oval feels the program was a success, adding "The whole purpose of the program was to provide some kind of catalyst to kick-start the economy, and by all accounts the extra production that was added this year was a boost to the economy."

While we're not entirely sure C4C was a great idea, it's hard to argue that it spurred desperately needed economic activity. Dealers were able to pay their staffs, OEMs ramped up production at plants to keep up with new demand, beneficiaries of C4C were able to upgrade their rides, and some of the road's biggest eyesores were given a sodium silicate death sentence - surely that's worth something.


Gallery: Cash for Clunkers vehicles


[Source: CNN Money | Image: Ethan Miller/Getty]

Edmunds: Cash for Clunkers cost taxpayers $24k per car, not $4k originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>c4ccash for clunkersCashForClunkersedmundsedmunds.comgovernment incentiveGovernmentIncentivesalvage programSalvageProgramsodium silicateSodiumSilicateThu, 29 Oct 2009 10:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Hard to Handle: Recyclers reportedly facing crush of cars after C4C]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/28/hard-to-handle-recyclers-reportedly-facing-crush-of-cars-after/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/28/hard-to-handle-recyclers-reportedly-facing-crush-of-cars-after/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/28/hard-to-handle-recyclers-reportedly-facing-crush-of-cars-after/#commentsFiled under:



The ramifications of America's. Cash for Clunkers program are still being figured out - which isn't all that surprising given that a total of 700,000 or so sales totaling $2.877 billion were processed in just one month. And besides facing the unfortunate lack of suitable demolition derby material, scrapyards are reportedly finding themselves ill-equipped to deal with all the junked iron sitting behind their barbed-wire fences.

To fully benefit from the program, these scrap cars need to be properly recycled, a process that includes removing most (if not all) of the good usable parts from each vehicle before sending the remaining hulk through crush and melt-down machines. According to the rules outlined in the original Car Allowance Rebate System documentation, recyclers had six months to dispose of all these car-casses. Apparently, that's not nearly enough time.

The American Recyclers Association explains that the initial six month deadline might have been acceptable before Congress tripled the size of the C4C program, but more time will likely be needed to deal with the mess left by the program's expansion. Another six months is now being requested of the Department of Transportation, though no final decisions have been made thus far.

[Source: The Associated Press via MSNBC | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]

Hard to Handle: Recyclers reportedly facing crush of cars after C4C originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>American Recyclers AssociationAmericanRecyclersAssociationauto dismantlingauto salvageAutoDismantlingAutoSalvagec4cc4c demandC4cDemandcar allowance rebate systemCarAllowanceRebateSystemCARSCash for Clunkerscash for clunkers billCashForClunkersCashForClunkersBilldismantlingDoTjunk carjunk carsjunk yardJunkCarJunkCarsJunkYardsalvagescrap carscrap carsScrapCarScrapCarsWed, 28 Oct 2009 09:59:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: J.D. Power predicts October car sales will be down just 6%]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/27/report-j-d-power-predicts-october-car-sales-will-be-down-just/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/27/report-j-d-power-predicts-october-car-sales-will-be-down-just/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/27/report-j-d-power-predicts-october-car-sales-will-be-down-just/#commentsFiled under: ,

October is coming to a close, which means we're within a few days of getting the bad news monthly auto sales tally. But October may not look as bad as many feared, at least according to the latest study by J.D. Power. The industry forecasting gurus see October sales down only six percent versus October 2008, showing that one of America's hardest hit industries may have already bottomed out. If October sales end up panning out like JDP thinks, it will be the first time in 17 months (outside of August's Cash for Clunkers anomaly) to see sales down under double digits. But while a mere six percent drop sounds like the sales famine is finally coming to a close, it's important to remember that auto sales for October 2008 were down themselves a full 30 percent compared to the year before.

J.D. Power is predicting that October 2009 sales come in at an annualized rate of 10.3 million units, down from last October's rate of 10.8 million cars and trucks sold. JDP's Gary Dilts goes out of his way to tell Reuters not to start celebrating over the single digit declines, but he does express some optimism adding that "improvements in consumer confidence and credit are propelling the return to positive sales gains relative to last year."

Deutsche Bank is even more optimistic about October, predicting annualized sales of 10.7 million for the month; just a fraction below last October's results. Even though the predicted sales drop of only six percent seems a bit deceiving, it does offer some hope to automakers. After months of uncertainty over just how low sales can go, it is starting to look like the worst of the auto sales decline may be behind us. Maybe.

[Source: Reuters]

REPORT: J.D. Power predicts October car sales will be down just 6% originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cash for clunkersCashForClunkersjd powerJdPoweroctober 2009 salesoctober salesOctober2009SalesOctoberSalesTue, 27 Oct 2009 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[STUDY: Used car prices reached all-time high in September]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/13/study-used-car-prices-reached-all-time-high-in-september/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/13/study-used-car-prices-reached-all-time-high-in-september/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/13/study-used-car-prices-reached-all-time-high-in-september/#commentsFiled under: ,



New car sales have been in a downward spiral for over a year now, and the big beneficiaries appear to be used cars (and repair shops). A study by Manheim Consulting shows that the company's Used Vehicle Value Index has risen to a record high of 118.5 in the month of September, up 1.8% versus August. That's the ninth straight increase this year, as Manheim's index has steamrolled northward by 6.9% over the past 12 months.

New car sales have risen in part because many car buyers have decided to save money by buying used vehicles instead of new models, shrinking the supply of used vehicles on the market. And since fewer customers are buying new cars, dealers are left with fewer trade-ins. The month of September was especially impactful because many of the car-buyers who did buy new cars and trucks used Cash for Clunkers, and all of those vehicles ended up at the neighborhood crusher, not the used car lot.

Manheim's report also shows that both new and used vehicle inventories are down, which explains why new car incentives have been sliding as well. And with fewer incentives on new vehicles, used vehicles become a more attractive option, except there aren't many pre-owned units on the market. Used vehicles are going to auction with higher overall miles as well, a trend that is to be expected with the lack of vehicles coming off leases. According to Manheim, in January, the average auction car had about 51,000 miles on the odometer. That number has steadily increased over the past nine months to the point where an average auction vehicle now has closer to 63,000 miles on it.

With few used cars on the market and those models that are left tending to be of the higher mileage variety, it makes some sense that some automakers are becoming bolded in their volume projections for next year. Head over to Manheim Consulting for more info on its used vehicle index.

[Source: Manheim Consulting | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]

STUDY: Used car prices reached all-time high in September originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>c4ccar buyingcar salesCarBuyingCarSalescash for clunkersCashForClunkersmanheimmanheim consultingmanheimconsultinguse carsUseCarsused carused car salesUsedCarUsedCarSalesTue, 13 Oct 2009 16:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Average new car mpg levels hit record high in August, spurred by Cash for Clunkers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/30/average-new-car-fuel-mileage-hits-record-high-in-august-spurred/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/30/average-new-car-fuel-mileage-hits-record-high-in-august-spurred/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/30/average-new-car-fuel-mileage-hits-record-high-in-august-spurred/#commentsFiled under:



The success or failure of the Cash for Clunkers program that recently came to an end here in the United States has been and will continue to be debatable, but at least some good was accomplished by the legislation. According to data compiled by Wards Auto, the average new car fuel mileage hit a new record of 23 miles per gallon in August, which is a gain of approximately eight percent from August of 2008.

As far as individual automakers go, Toyota came out on top with an average of 26.9 mpg for all cars sold in August, followed by Kia at 25.1 and Hyundai at 24.9 mpg. American nameplates made the biggest mileage jump, rising about four percent from August of 2008 to 20.4 mpg - a new record.

Nobody knows exactly what will happen when the sales figures from September are calculated, but many experts are predicting that fuel efficiency will take a nosedive now that C4C will no longer be offering up to $4,500 to trade up to a new, more efficient car or truck. Overall though, fuel efficiency is likely to steadily increase over the next few years in correlation with the latest CAFE requirements.

[Source: Wards Auto via Green Car Reports | Image: Kevork Djansezian/Getty]

Average new car mpg levels hit record high in August, spurred by Cash for Clunkers originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>average fuel economyaverage fuel mileageAverageFuelEconomyAverageFuelMileagec4ccash for clunkersCashForClunkersfuel economyfuel efficiencyfuel mileageFuelEconomyFuelEfficiencyFuelMileagegreenWed, 30 Sep 2009 08:19:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Toyota increases 2009-2010 global sales forecast by 3%]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/28/report-toyota-increases-2009-2010-global-sales-forecast-by-3/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/28/report-toyota-increases-2009-2010-global-sales-forecast-by-3/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/28/report-toyota-increases-2009-2010-global-sales-forecast-by-3/#commentsFiled under: ,



There have been subtle signs that demand for new cars and trucks are improving. Several automakers plan to increase production over the next few months, and Toyota is no different. Reuters is reporting that the World's Largest Automaker has raised its sales forecast by 3% to 6.7 million units for the year ending March 2010. Toyota is also reportedly looking to increase production by a not-so-subtle 8% to a total of 6.45 million units. Toyota is neither confirming or denying the report, which originated in the Tokyo Shimbun daily.

Some of the reasons cited for the increased forecast and production center around incentives from governments all over the world. Here in the States, Cash for Clunkers payed a big role in Toyota's sales increase, while low emissions vehicle subsidies of up to $2,800 by the Japanese government has helped spur sales in the automaker's home market.

[Source: Reuters]

REPORT: Toyota increases 2009-2010 global sales forecast by 3% originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cash for clunkersCashForClunkersincentivesjapansales forecastSalesForecasttoyotatoyota 2009 salestoyota productiontoyota salestoyota sales forecastToyota2009SalesToyotaProductionToyotaSalesToyotaSalesForecastMon, 28 Sep 2009 08:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Top Ten "green" cars that met their fate during Cash for Clunkers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/26/top-ten-green-cars-that-met-their-fate-during-cash-for-clunker/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/26/top-ten-green-cars-that-met-their-fate-during-cash-for-clunker/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/26/top-ten-green-cars-that-met-their-fate-during-cash-for-clunker/#comments

One rule that all clunked cars needed to adhere to was a maximum rating of 18 MPG from the federal government, right? What wasn't required was that the clunked car be considered dirty. After all, it's pretty clear that CNG vehicles burn clean, but that didn't stop 232 of them from meeting their sodium silicate solution-induced death.

We looked through the official, but as of yet unverified, list (PDF) of trade-in cars that were clunked using the Car Allowance Rebate System (Cash for Clunkers) and found that the aforementioned CNG vehicles, 1,779 flex-fuel vehicles and 24 LPG vehicles found their way to the recycler thanks to CARS. Which alternative-fuel models were most dumped? Which single hybrid took a dive? Click above for our top ten and check out the full list after the jump.

Photo by dno1967. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

Continue reading Top Ten "green" cars that met their fate during Cash for Clunkers

Top Ten "green" cars that met their fate during Cash for Clunkers originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>b3000carscash for clunkersCashForClunkersclunkerscnge250explorerf150featuredflex-fuelflex-fuel vehicleFlex-fuelVehiclefordgrand marquisGrandMarquisgreenmazdamercurymountaineerrangersierrasonomaSat, 26 Sep 2009 18:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Official Cash for Clunkers trade-in list reveals oddities too strange to believe]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/24/shed-a-tear-for-clunkers-that-deserved-better/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/24/shed-a-tear-for-clunkers-that-deserved-better/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/24/shed-a-tear-for-clunkers-that-deserved-better/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


Cash for Clunkers claimed some really interesting vehicles - Was a Buick GNX among them?

Mixed reaction has surrounded the government's Cash for Clunkers program, but after spending around $2.8 billion, some 700,000 new vehicles have found homes. But what got traded in? We've heard some horror stories, but now that the full list of executed vehicles has been released on the Cars.gov website and we've listed some of the oddities we found while snooping around. Many are down right hard to believe, suggesting either errors in the submission process, typos in the list or even some fudging by dealers who clunked a few vehicles that weren't eligible. After the jump is a list of "Clunkers" that stood out. We can't guarantee these all really went to the crusher, but they do appear on the list.

Follow the jump for a recap of the program's eligibility requirements for trade-in vehicles and our full list. And we'd suggest having a box of tissues nearby.

[Source: Cars.gov]

Continue reading Official Cash for Clunkers trade-in list reveals oddities too strange to believe

Official Cash for Clunkers trade-in list reveals oddities too strange to believe originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>c4ccash for clunkersCashForClunkersclunkersexoticexotic carexotic carsexotic clunkersExoticCarExoticCarsExoticClunkersexoticsrare clunkersRareClunkersThu, 24 Sep 2009 12:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Cars.com survey says public wants more Cash for Clunkers. Well, of course they do. ]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/23/cars-com-survey-says-public-wants-more-cash-for-clunkers-well/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/23/cars-com-survey-says-public-wants-more-cash-for-clunkers-well/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/23/cars-com-survey-says-public-wants-more-cash-for-clunkers-well/#commentsFiled under:



After a month of relentless Cash for Clunkers coverage, we were more than pleased when the Fed's buy-back program finally ended. Nearly every other day C4C was in danger of getting shut down because of a lack of funds. Then there were dealers were worried about getting paid and customers who had to sign responsibility forms in the event their clunker wasn't covered under the program. But while we've had more than our fill of C4C, the car-buying public wants more.

A recent poll conducted by Kicking Tires shows that 55 percent of recent car buyers and current shoppers feel C4C should be resurrected. You might be thinking that anyone who's recently purchased a new car would be pleased with any program which provided $4,500 for an inefficient hunk of junk, but only ten percent of respondents participated in the program. Among those involved, 37 percent would have purchased a new car over a used car if C4C was in effect, 30 percent weren't anticipating a purchase of any kind and 24 percent held off on new car purchases until clunkers arrived.

While many car buyers would love a continuation of Cash for Clunkers, we're guessing tax payers probably don't want to dole out another $3 billion to clear our nations roads of additional rust buckets. Heck, according to an Automotive News survey, 44 percent of dealers didn't even want the program extended the first time.

[Source: Kicking Tires | Image Source: Justin Sullivan/Getty]

Cars.com survey says public wants more Cash for Clunkers. Well, of course they do. originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>c4ccash for clunkersCashForClunkersgovernment programGovernmentProgramobama administrationObamaAdministrationWed, 23 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: 90% of Cash for Clunkers claims have been paid]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/22/report-90-of-cash-for-clunkers-claims-have-been-paid/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/22/report-90-of-cash-for-clunkers-claims-have-been-paid/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/22/report-90-of-cash-for-clunkers-claims-have-been-paid/#commentsFiled under:



Actually, paid or approved. Clunker claims being approved is the last step before dealers get paid. But yes, Cash for Clunkers, the very popular, definitely controversial program that gave consumers between $3,500 and $4,500 for their old, low gas-mileage cars is racing towards it September 30 end date. Meaning there's one week left to approve the last ten percent. Put another way, $2.6 billion dollars is either in, or will be in the pockets of car dealers for certain, with the remainder of the $2.9 billion total still unaccounted for.

Getting down to the nitty and the gritty, $2.3 billion -- representing 534,598 claims -- has been paid out. Checks have been written, cashed, done. Leaving about $322,000,000 (76,775 claims) approved but not yet paid. Some of the unpaid claims were initially rejected by various reasons but were then resubmitted and then approved. Still, the Department of Transportation (DoT) has one week to pay out more than $615 million to hit Secretary LaHood's September 30 deadline. All in all 681,426 Cash 4 Clunkers deals transpired totaling nearly $3 billion in payouts.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req. | Image Source: Justin Sullivan/Getty]


REPORT: 90% of Cash for Clunkers claims have been paid originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In the wake of the government's Cash for Clunkers program, analysts are crunching the data to determine who benefited the most from the month-long incentive program. Interestingly enough, it appears that "Blue States" (states where the residents predominantly vote for Democrat) benefited the most. USA Today reports that the 28 states that voted for Barack Obama have requested nearly $2.13 billion in rebates. On the other hand, states that voted for John McCain (a.k.a. "Red States"), have only requested $757 million.

Political analysts are puzzled, as there is no clear-cut indicator to explain the findings. One has suggested that middle-class Americans in Blue States took advantage of the rebate, even if they weren't in the market for a new car. Another suggested that it was up to the dealers. "I know in Tennessee, dealers were pulling back, whereas in Illinois, the dealers were all gung-ho," said a democratic pollster. One significant deciding factor was credit. Mississippi (a red state) finished second from the bottom. "I'm sure there are a lot of people who would have loved to trade in, but in Mississippi, income and credit right now are the worst I've seen," said the general manager of a dealership in the state.

[Source: USA Today]

'Blue States' reportedly biggest winners in Cash For Clunkers originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Audi Q5 - click above for high-res gallery

With many automakers scaling back production to better balance supply with demand, it's not surprising there are several hard-to-find models right now. Forbes Magazine made some calls and did a little research and turned up what they say is the top 12 most difficult to find cars. After the run on high-mileage cars recently, you'd expect to see hybrid models like the Toyota Prius at No. 2 on the list. Tied for second is a car on the other extreme, the Chevrolet Camaro. Both model are spending an average of 18.5 days on dealer lots.

But Forbes says the hardest to find new car recently is actually the Audi Q5. The Four-Ringed crossover sat around in showrooms an average of only 16.8 days in June and July. Audi had another hit on the list with its S5, which tied for 12th place with the Mini Cooper.

Only one other American nameplate showed up as a hot seller, and that was Ford's Escape and Escape Hybrid, slipping in at No. 10. Toyota had a whopping five vehicles on the list, including the Prius and the Lexus RX 350/RX Hybrid. The Matrix was No. 4, the FJ Cruiser No. 8, and the RAV4 was No. 9. Said another way, "Thanks, Cash for Clunkers!"

Oddly, the Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI didn't show up on Forbes' list. From our personal experience and reports from readers, the car is almost impossible to find due to production issues and demand -presumably that's because the study calculated days on lots for the entire Jetta lineup, not just specific models therein.


Gallery: Beijing '08: 2009 Audi Q5


[Source: Forbes]

Forbes names 12 hardest new cars to find originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audi q5AudiQ5auto salesAutoSalesc4ccamarocash for clunkersCashForClunkerschevy camaroChevyCamarofj cruiserFjCruiserforbesforbes magazineforbes.comForbesMagazinematrixminipriusq5rav4rx 350rx 350 hybridRx350Rx350Hybrids5sportwagensportwagen dieselsportwagen tdiSportwagenDieselSportwagenTdiMon, 07 Sep 2009 12:31:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Cash for Clunkers leads to shortage of destruction derby cars. Oh, the humanity!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/05/report-cash-for-clunkers-leads-to-shortage-of-destruction-derby/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/05/report-cash-for-clunkers-leads-to-shortage-of-destruction-derby/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/05/report-cash-for-clunkers-leads-to-shortage-of-destruction-derby/#commentsFiled under: ,



With 690,000 vehicles sentenced to one final gargle of sodium silicate, thanks to the now-defunct Cash for Clunkers program, demolition-derby drivers seem to have been left holding the short end of the driveshaft. What the government seems to have forgotten is that many cars, hobbling and sputtering as they near death, prefer to make one final trip to the local county fair (assuming they escape a 24 Hours of LeMons team). There, stripped of glass and with fuel tanks moved safely inward, the clunkers die an honorable death smashed gloriously to pieces in front of large (and often well-hydrated), cheering crowds.

"Obama is an anti-demo-derby guy," says Tory Schutte, head of the Demolition Derby Drivers Association. "He's targeting the cars we've been using." (But let's not just blame the President. Scrap metal prices have skyrocketed in the past two years, so many last-leg heaps are heading straight to the junkyard for recycling.) According to those who keep track of such things, there were 3,500 demolition derbies in the U.S. last year. The orchestrated pageantry of bent steel, blown radiators, and dislodged wheels is often the main draw at local county fairs... and the drivers prefer to keep it that way.

[Source: Time | Image: Illinois State Fair]

REPORT: Cash for Clunkers leads to shortage of destruction derby cars. Oh, the humanity! originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 05 Sep 2009 10:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

Cash for Clunkers helped all automakers move some metal during the month of August and now Ford is looking to capture lightning in a bottle up in the Great White North. Ford of Canada is working with the Clean Air Foundation to provide incentives of up to $3,000 for vehicles 15 years or older. Three hundred of those dollars would come from the Canadian government as part of its Retire Your Ride program.

The plan sounds good based solely on its ability to save customers up to $3,000 per clunker, but info from NRCan's Fuel Consumption Guide for Canada shows that the program will also save you big at the pump. Replace the typical sedan from 1995 with a 2010 Ford Fusion 2.5L and save $325 per year in fuel prices.Things look even better if you're driving an SUV from and you trade it in for a FWD 2010 Ford Escape 2.5L as you can shed $975 per year at the pump. The move is also good for the environment, as the Clean Air Foundation states that the average vehicle from 1995 emits 19 times more pollutants than a comparably sized 2004 model.

Here is how the incentives break down. The government's Retire Your Ride program offers $300, transit passes, discounts on bicycles and more to the owners of 1995 model year vehicles or older who turn in a clunker. The Blue Oval will pitch in $1,000 towards the purchase of a Ford car, $2,000 towards a crossover or SUV or $3,000 towards a Ford truck or Lincoln vehicle. Hit the jump to pour over the press release, and if you're a Canadian interested in the program, rules and regulations are at the bottom.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

2010fordfusionhybrid_review0002010fordfusionhybrid_review0012010fordfusionhybrid_review0022010fordfusionhybrid_review0032010fordfusionhybrid_review004

Continue reading Ford of Canada partners with Clean Air Foundation to give C4C-like incentives

Ford of Canada partners with Clean Air Foundation to give C4C-like incentives originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When Cash for Clunkers was announced, most everyone was so fixed on government subsidies and the potential for a sales uptick that one big obstacle was apparently largely overlooked. How and when would dealers get paid? A couple weeks after the program officially ended, we're beginning to get an idea, and the answer is "slowly." According to Automotive News, a survey by the National Automotive Dealers Association on August 27 says that only 5.7% of all clunker transactions have been reimbursed. That's but a fraction of the nearly 700,000 overall C4C deals, a number that has dealers around the country smarting. Michigan Representative Michael Rogers reportedly told Automotive News that he asked the Transportation Department about the 5.7% number, and the department countered that it thought the number was closer to 10%.

Anyone looking for the pace of Clunker reimbursements to uptick will likely be disappointed as well, as the study also shows that 83.7% of all clunker apps are still under review. Further, 6.3% of claims have reportedly been rejected, and NADA says that the dealers aren't even being given a reason why. The Obama Administration insists that all approved C4C transactions will be reimbursed, while rejected claims can be resubmitted. While it's no surprise that the government isn't able to move quickly to reimburse dealers, it does astound that the apparent administrative incompetence of C4C cost $100 million.

[Source: Automotive News - subs req'd | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]

REPORT: Just 5.7% of dealers have gotten cash for their clunkers originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>c4ccash for clunkersCashForClunkersclunkersdealersnadaThu, 03 Sep 2009 06:42:00 EST<![CDATA[By the Numbers - August 2009: Cash for Clunkers Edition]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/01/by-the-numbers-august-2009-cash-for-clunkers-edition/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/01/by-the-numbers-august-2009-cash-for-clunkers-edition/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/01/by-the-numbers-august-2009-cash-for-clunkers-edition/#commentsFiled under:

FoMoCo sales up 17%, GM and Chrysler improve but still losing sales

After reviewing the U.S. auto industry's sales numbers for August 2009, the true effect of the government's Cash for Clunkers program has come into crystal clear focus. There are those automakers that were prepared for this promotion, having at the right time and place a lineup that was eminently attractive to the hoards of shoppers with a clunker to trade. Then there are those other automakers that either by the very nature of their products or the fact that they spent the last few years twiddling their thumbs (or going bankrupt) were unable to take full advantage of the U.S. government's open pockets.

Despite having sold fewer C4C vehicles than Honda and Toyota, Ford was clearly the bigger winner last month with an increase of 16.99% for all of Ford Motor Company and a 21.25-percent jump for the Ford brand itself. Those numbers include big gains for the Fusion (up 131.6 percent), Focus (up 55.9 percent) and Flex (up 106.5 percent). Even the Mercury Milan was up 111.7 percent. Toyota Motors Sales and American Honda did post positive gains as well, up 6.41 and 9.93 percent respectively, while Nissan North America improved to a slight decline of 2.93 percent.

Then there's Chrysler Group LLC and General Motors, down 15.43 and 20.19 percent respectively. While the C4C program no doubt improved what might otherwise have been an even more dismal month for these two automakers, they were clearly unable to take full advantage of the program with the baggage of recent bankruptcy around their necks and lineups, at least in Chrysler's case, that offered little incentive to upgrade one's clunker.

The trio of brands that has continually outpaced the rest of the industry this year - Subaru (up 51.51 percent), Kia (up 60.38 percent) and Hyundai (up 47.01 percent) - continued their winning ways and then some, each reporting all-time sales records last month thanks to a boost from the C4C program. To put their success in perspective, Hyundai and Kia together outsold Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler and Subaru outsold rivals Mazda and Volkswagen.

Brands and companies are both displayed in descending order according to their percentage change in volume sales. There were 26 selling days in August 2009 and 27 selling days in August 2008, so the change in monthly sales volume will be different than the change in the average daily sales rate for each brand/company.

Brand Volume % 8/09 8/08 DSR*% DSR 8/09 DSR 8/08
Kia 60.38 40,198 25,065 66.54 1,546 928
Subaru 51.51 28,683 18,932 57.33 1,103 701
Hyundai 47.01 60,467 41,130 52.67 2,326 1,523
Audi 25.77 8,057 6,406 30.61 310 237
Volvo 24.78 5,826 4,669 29.58 224 173
Pontiac 23.35 29,921 24,257 28.09 1,151 898
Ford 21.25 161,369 133,088 25.91 6,207 4,929
Honda 15.21 151,814 131,766 19.65 5,839 4,880
Mazda 12.09 26,542 23,680 16.40 1,021 877
Volkswagen 11.35 24,823 22,292 15.64 955 826
Toyota 10.94 202,196 182,252 15.21 7,777 6,750
Porsche 8.69 1,526 1,404 12.87 59 52
Mercury 8.19 9,080 8,393 12.35 349 311
Nissan 0.17 97,580 97,417 4.02 3,753 3,608
Suzuki -5.46 5,749 6,081 -1.82 221 225
Jeep -6.11 22,041 23,476 -2.50 848 869
Mini -6.55 5,111 5,469 -2.95 197 203
Mercedes-Benz -7.54 17,112 18,507 -3.98 658 685
Chevrolet -9.16 168,130 185,080 -5.66 6,467 6,855
Dodge -15.80 52,562 62,422 -12.56 2,022 2,312
BMW Group -21.30 24,343 30,931 -18.27 936 1,146
Lexus -21.82 22,892 29,281 -18.81 880 1,084
Chrysler -23.50 18,619 24,337 -20.55 716 901
BMW -24.47 19,232 25,462 -21.56 740 943
Mitsubishi -25.95 6,813 9,200 -23.10 262 341
Infiniti -30.19 7,732 11,076 -27.51 297 410
Acura -36.21 9,625 15,089 -33.76 370 559
Lincoln -38.43 5,874 9,540 -36.06 226 353
Smart -44.59 1,418 2,559 -42.46 55 95
GMC -45.15 23,145 42,194 -43.04 890 1,563
Buick -51.71 8,612 17,833 -49.85 331 660
Cadillac -55.01 6,931 15,405 -53.28 267 571
Saturn -58.41 8,479 20,385 -56.81 326 755
Hummer -64.03 777 2,160 -62.64 30 80
Saab -67.80 484 1,503 -66.56 19 56
COMPANIES
Ford Motor Company 16.99 182,149 155,690 21.49 7006 5766
American Honda 9.93 161,439 146,855 14.16 6209 5439
Toyota Mo Co 6.41 225,088 211,533 10.50 8657 7835
Nissan North America -2.93 105,312 108,493 0.80 4050 4018
Chrysler Group LLC -15.43 93,222 110,235 -12.18 3585 4083
General Motors -20.19 246,479 308,817 -17.12 9480 11438

By the Numbers - August 2009: Cash for Clunkers Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>august 2009 salesaugust salesAugust2009SalesAugustSalesby the numbersByTheNumberscash for clunkersCashForClunkersfeaturedford august salesFordAugustSalesTue, 01 Sep 2009 17:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Final tally for Cash for Clunkers: 700,000 sales, $2.877B]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/26/final-tally-for-cash-for-clunkers-700-000-sales-2-877b/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/26/final-tally-for-cash-for-clunkers-700-000-sales-2-877b/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/26/final-tally-for-cash-for-clunkers-700-000-sales-2-877b/#commentsFiled under: ,

Toyota Corolla most bought, Ford Explorer 4WD most traded


After one month, an extra $2 billion in funding and an absolute mess of paperwork, Cash for Clunkers has finally petered out. The final numbers are in and the program resulted in 700,000 sales totaling $2.877 billion in $3,500 and $4,500 vouchers handed out at dealerships across the nation. An additional $100 million was set aside for administration costs, or about $144 for every claim processed, leaving $23 million in the kitty.

In all, 84% of participating customers traded in pickup trucks, and 59% ended up with passenger cars. The other 41% was split up among crossovers, SUVs and new pickups. The Transportation Department says the program resulted in a 58% improvement in fuel economy for the new vehicles, as the outgoing models averaged 15.8 mpg while the new models averaged 24.9 mpg.

At the onset of C4C, Detroit automakers appeared to be getting a sizable share of turn-ins, but import automakers gained ground on the domestics as the program wore on. Ford, GM and Chrysler combined to take 38.6% of overall Clunkers transactions with Chrysler coming in last with an unimpressive 6.6% chunk.

The Detroit Free Press is reporting that the Toyota Corolla was the most purchased car under the program, followed by the Honda Civic and Toyota Camry. The Ford Focus and Escape were the only domestics to make the top 10, though Edmunds has pointed out that the government vehicle counting process is outdated, messing up the top 10 tally. The Ford Explorer 4WD was the most turned in vehicle under C4C, while the 2WD Explorer finished 4th. Hit the jump to check out the ten most purchased and most turned in vehicles under the Clunkers program.

[Source: Detroit News, Detroit Free Press | Photo: MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty ]

Continue reading Final tally for Cash for Clunkers: 700,000 sales, $2.877B

Final tally for Cash for Clunkers: 700,000 sales, $2.877B originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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