The government's scrappage scheme, which has taken more than 400,000 vehicles viable for service and repair out of the market, has ended.

The scheme was designed to deliver a boost to the motor industry, offering a £2,000 grant to scrap an old car in exchange for a new one.

Lord Mandelson, Business Secretary said: “The scheme was always time limited and as it closes I am pleased to see scrappage has delivered the results we aimed for – not just for manufacturers, but for the whole industry and its supply chain. The figures show that this scheme gave vital support, boosting demand when the industry needed it most, helping to position the auto sector to meet the challenges of building a strong low carbon future.

“I fully endorse the initiatives already taken by industry to offer new deals and additional savings to customers still interested in buying a new car.”

Hyundai, Ford and Kia were the vehicle manufacturers to benefit most from the scrappage scheme.

Scrappage – top facts on the scrappage scheme

1.     Latest figures show that scrappage contributed to approximately one fifth (20%) of all new car registrations since the scheme started

2.     Half (54%) of scrappage buyers surveyed had never bought a new car before

3.     More than half (56%) of those surveyed said they would not have bought any vehicle at this time if the scrappage scheme had not been introduced

4.     Cars bought through scrappage had average CO2 emissions of 133g,km – 27% lower than the average CO2 of scrapped cars

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