It didn't last long: one month to be precise. The American public ate through the $3 billion stimulus program for purchasing new, efficient cars and trucks as fast as they could qualify their older gas guzzlers for the $3,500 and $4,500 credits.
Alas, all good things must come to an end - sometimes prematurely. Precise numbers are not available for how many of the cars turned in through the Car Allowance Rebate System (cars.gov) actually qualified for the credits as it is estimated that as many as 80% of the claim forms had errors according to a National Automobile Dealers Association report.
While it is estimated that when the program ends Monday, only $2 billion of the $3 billion of credits may have been reimbursed to the new car dealers, the program was on track to exhaust the additional $2 billion authorized by Congress only 2 weeks ago (August 6).
What may have caused the program to end early was the reimbursements due the dealers. It turns out that the Department of Transportation hadn't expected the tremendous interest in the program and could never process the claims as fast as the dealers could submit them.
The program had its share of critics - from those who claimed that it was funding too many light truck purchases and from environmentalists who claimed the program was not an efficient way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Thanks to Mark Boshnack
FULL STORY: Cash for Clunkers to end on Monday
Colorado Launches ‘Cash-for-Clunkers’ Program
Colorado residents can get $6,000 in extra rebates if they trade in their old gas-powered vehicle for an electric vehicle. Rebates are expected to go quickly.
Cash for Clunkers Program A Dud, Say Economists
A new study says that the bump in sales brought on by the Cash for Clunkers program was immediately followed by an equal plunge in sales, effectively wiping out the economic benefit.
Ford in the Black, Thanks to Cash for Clunkers
Ford Motor Co. is reporting almost $1b in profits in the third quarter. CEO Alan Mulally credits the Cash for Clunkers program and cost cutting for their success.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing
The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents
The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie