Brakes put on US scrappage scheme 美国汽车报废计划停止

The US government says that a $3bn (£1.8bn) car scrappage scheme will end next week after funds ran out.

美国政府称，一项价值30亿美元的轿车报废方案因资金耗尽下周停止。

US car sales rose in July

The Car Allowance Rebate¹ System (CARS), dubbed² the "cash for clunkers" plan, has been seen an industry life-line.

Owners of old cars and trucks gain up to $4,500 towards a new vehicle in exchange for their old model.

The programme was initially³ only allocated⁴ $1bn but a further $2bn was injected earlier this month after a boost in US car sales.

The "clunkers" programme was inspired by similar schemes in Europe.

Industry boost

Car industry analysts⁵ JD Power predicted that US vehicle sales would pass one million in August - for the first time in 12 months.

"This program has been a life-line to the automobile⁶ industry, jump-starting a major sector⁷ of the economy and putting people back to work," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said.

"At the same time, we've been able to take old, polluting cars off the road and help consumers purchase fuel-efficient vehicles."

Those backing the programme have applauded the scheme for its economic benefits - but some critics say these will only be temporary.

Earlier this week a group representing about 20,000 new car dealers⁸ in the US warned that those who accepted further sales under the scheme risked not being paid back the rebates⁹（回扣） they had already given customers.

There have been complaints that delays making in reimbursements¹⁰（偿还） has added to the strains on dealers already struggling amid tight credit and poor car sales.