Skip to Content
Streetsblog San Francisco home
Streetsblog San Francisco home
Log In
Car Culture

“Cash for Clunkers” Coming to a Close?

The Obama administration plans to close the door on the politically popular and environmentally slipshod auto trade-in program known as "cash for clunkers," according to a report this afternoon in the Wall Street Journal:

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Wednesday he would disclosewithin two days updated figures on the program, including how much ofthe $3 billion in funding was left. He said he would also offer ablueprint for how the administration will wind down the program toensure all vouchers issued by dealers are reimbursed by the governmentbefore the money runs out.

"They're going to get their money," Mr. LaHood said, responding todealers' complaints of payment delays. "There will be no car dealerthat won't be reimbursed."

Auto
dealers have submitted claims to about $1.8 billion of the program's
taxpayer-funded rebates, which represents 435,102 vehicle purchases,
according to data released today by the U.S. DOT.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog San Francisco

Streetsblog SF editor Roger Rudick offers constructive criticism of Chicago’s downtown bike network

"There were blocks that felt very safe and very secure," he said. "But then you're immediately – voom! – disgorged into three lanes of moving traffic with no protection."

April 26, 2024

Commentary: There is Zero Ambiguity to the West Portal Tragedy

What happened in West Portal was entirely predictable and preventable. The city must now close Ulloa to through traffic and make sure it can never happen again

April 25, 2024
See all posts