Car Allowance Rebate System

The Car Allowance Rebate System (german car allowance rebate system ), short- CARS ( cars, cars '), refers to the authorization system of the Federal Government of the United States to grant a scrappage scheme for old cars in July 2009. In public, the U.S., the program was mostly as cash for clunkers (English, Cash for Junkers ' ) are discussed.

Function and scope

In analogy to the European scrappage premium system pursues the dual objective to bring old high-emission vehicles off the road and at the same time to support the sales of new fuel-efficient vehicles in the auto industry. In 2009, the supplementary funds was still under the title of Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Program ( save consumer support for recycling and ( fuel ) ') out, with the same acronym CARS.

The scrapping program was officially launched on 1 July 2009, however, approval was paid only from 24 July 2009. Originally a maximum total payment of one billion U.S. dollars, it was decided, however, reported the competent Department of Transportation of the United States that the funds were completely exhausted on July 30, 2009. Industry and government estimate that about 250,000 vehicle purchases were funded within one week. In response to this rapid result of the Congress of the United States sought with the help of the Obama administration, an increase by a further 2 billion U.S. dollars to the approval of the House of Representatives on July 31, 2009, the consent of the Senate took place on 6 August 2009. Already at that time it was expected that the increase will be used up to early September. In fact, the final claims 25 August 2009 were accepted. Officially, the program ran until September 30, 2011, but no further requests could be submitted more.

Eligibility criteria

  • The vehicle must be at the time the application is submitted less than 25 years.
  • Is subsidized the purchase of new vehicles or their leases with a minimum term of 5 years.
  • The minimum consumption of the old vehicle is higher than 13.1 l/100 km (18 MPG), for high pickup and delivery vehicles even higher.
  • The old vehicle must be approved for at least one year before the application was consistently on the owner and insured.
  • The old vehicle must be still roadworthy.
  • Be granted subsidies in the period from 1 July 2009 to 1 November 2009 or as long as enough money.
  • The old vehicle must be scrapped, with the Scrapper must identify a scrap value and pay on the subsidy amount also.
  • The grant amount is taxable in accordance with the regulations of the individual states.

The Environmental Protection Agency U.S. EPA has issued a final list of models that are eligible under the old vehicles. The new vehicle must not be more expensive than U.S. $ 45,000 and the eligibility for the new vehicle depends on the vehicle class and their associated values ​​for fuel consumption from:

  • General car must be (22 mpg ) better than 10.7 l/100 km.
  • Class 1 Trucks (especially SUVs and small pickups ) have to be better than 13.1 l/100 km (18 MPG) and Class 2 trucks ( axle spacing greater than about 3 feet ) must be better than 17 l/100 km (15 MPG)
  • Class 3 trucks ( small truck of 4 to 5.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight) have no special consumption criteria, but under certain conditions still eligible.

The Federal Road Administration NHTSA has published an exhaustive list of models that are eligible under the new vehicles. The withdrawal amount is divided into two classes, which depends on the difference in fuel consumption of new cars and old car.

  • A grant of 4500 U.S. dollars shall be paid: ELV 's car, Class 1 or Class 2 Truck and new vehicle as a passenger vehicle with a difference of more than 10 MPG
  • And new vehicle as a class 1 truck at a difference of more than 5 MPG
  • And new vehicle as a class 2 truck with a difference of more than 2 MPG
  • ELV 's car, Class 1 or Class 2 Truck and new vehicle as a passenger vehicle with a difference of 4 to 9 MPG MPG
  • And new vehicle as a class 1 truck at a difference of 2 to 4 MPG MPG
  • And new vehicle as a class 2 truck with a difference of more than 1 MPG

And added a general rule that an exchange of old vehicle with a new vehicle is then eligible if the new vehicle is smaller ( left open in the law, whether in size and / or weight ) is at least fuel efficient and. The conversion of the difference between the " Miles per Gallon " in " liters per hundred kilometers " is here left open as non-linear ( see conversion between mpg and l/100 km ) - especially gas guzzlers at the top of the differences reach more easily, so that even the exchange is sufficiently in new vehicles without special saving qualities for the full grant of 4500 U.S. dollars.

A first analysis showed that the American automakers even slightly benefited with 47% share in the first round of the discount system over its remaining market share in the U.S. of 45 % of the program. With effect from 3 August was the master sat Altauto a Ford Explorer and the masterful releasing a new vehicle Ford Focus.

Scrapping compulsory

As part of the scrapping program special scrapping guidelines were adopted in order to ensure that end of life vehicles do not enter the used car market. The Scrapper is required to drain the oil and replace it with liquid sodium silicate, and then start the engine and as long to run until the engine is irreparably damaged by the internal wear and run out. Furthermore, the remains of the engine block and the transmission, and in some cases the axle assemblies may not be resold. Other parts of the rest of the vehicle can be recycled, but the body must be kept for up to 180 days for salvaging, and must be given after the evisceration into the crusher or shredder.

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