Caliber falls from top ten in Cash for Clunkers sales

The Dodge Caliber dropped out of the top ten bestselling vehicles in the latest snapshot of the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) results. Chrysler Group’s share of sales also dropped, from 10.6 percent to 9.1 percent of transactions.

The Chevrolet Cobalt also lost its top ten position, leaving Ford as the only U.S. automaker represented in the Cash for Clunkers list.

The most recent data show the Japanese automakers are now taking a larger share of the “Clunkers” pie. Toyota, with 18.9 percent of sales, has replaced General Motors as the top brand among claims processed to date. GM’s share dropped from 18.7 percent of sales to 17.6 percent. Ford’s share is now 15.4 percent and Chrysler Group’s share dropped from 10.6 percent on August 5 to 9.1 percent in the latest figures. The combined share for the U.S. automakers dropped from 47 percent of sales to 42.1 percent, while the Japanese automakers saw their share rise to 39.2 percent.

As of today, dealers have submitted claims for over $1.5 billion, more than half the total amount allotted for the program. Congress will have to decide whether to add more funds to the program, originally intended to run through November 1, when it reconvenes after Labor Day.

Top Ten CARS vehicles as of August 15:
Toyota Corolla
Honda Civic
Ford Focus
Toyota Camry
Toyota Prius
Hyundai Elantra
Ford Escape
Honda Fit
Nissan Versa
Honda CR-V