The wildly successful Cash for Clunkers program is only in its fourth week -- and in just a month of operation, the government has already had to allocate more funding. Now, automakers may have to add more cars to their lots. And if they can't do it quickly enough, the government is willing to help them out - again.
According to USA Today, "the government is weighing a voucher program that could let consumers take delivery later of new cars that are unavailable now." The proposal, led by Michigan Republican Candice Miller, is facing opposition from Japanese automakers, who say it "would ‘create considerable confusion,'" explains the Los Angeles Times.
The Detroit News has confirmed that Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood received a letter from Congresswomen Miller detailing her request for the changes. However, it is unclear when or if Secretary Ray LaHood will act on the proposed changes.
Meanwhile, dealerships across the country are running low on popular models. These include the Ford Focus, which quickly became the top-selling car bought using the Clunkers rebate. Ford is already increasing production of the Focus. Autoblog explains that the Wayne Assembly plant that builds the Focus "will appreciate the overtime, which will run from now through the end of September and will result in an additional 6,400 Focuses rolling down the line."
However, the Detroit Free Press cautions automakers to take it easy, noting, "Any automaker that overbuilds in reaction to the short-term surge in demand could easily wind up with too much inventory by late fall."
If you're interested in the Cash for Clunkers program, now is the time to act. Check out our Cash for Clunkers page to see if you qualify. For the latest updates on the program, read our Cash for Clunkers news.
