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WORLD> Photo
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US to end 'clunkers' rebates on Aug. 24
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-08-21 23:00
To address dealers' concerns, General Motors Co said on Thursday it would provide cash advances to dealers to give them liquidity to run their businesses while they await government's checks. GM said sales in the past two months had exceeded its internal forecast by more than 60,000 vehicles, largely driven by the "clunkers" program.
By late July, the "clunkers" program, inspired by similar programs in Europe, had been drained of its original $1 billion budget. Congress authorized another $2 billion to extend the program, which has been likened to a shot of Adrenalin for the US auto market. "Given the popularity of the program and the rapid pace at which 'clunker' deals are being done, it is difficult, if not impossible, to accurately project the 'burn rate' of available funds," the National Automobile Dealers Association said in a statement. US retail vehicle sales in August are projected to exceed 1 million units for the first time in the past 12 months, boosted by the rebates, auto industry forecasting firm J.D. Power & Associates said on Thursday. Combined with sales to fleet customers, such as rental companies and government agencies, total light vehicle sales are expected to come in at 1.1 million units in August, down 8 percent from a year earlier, J.D. Power said. "Improved consumer confidence and credit availability during the past six months have combined with the (rebates) program to lift industry sales out of their slumping year-to-date levels, which have been down approximately 35 percent year over year," said Gary Dilts, senior vice president at J.D. Power. On a seasonally adjusted basis, widely tracked by analysts, US August auto sales could be as high as 12.2 million units, up from 11 million units in July and the highest rate of 2009, the agency said.
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