| It would appear that the extension to the scrappage | | | | donated by the Government, and the remaining one |
| scheme has been welcomed with open arms by car | | | | thousand is contributed by the car manufacturer. |
| dealers and buyers in Scotland. In September, new car | | | | The scheme has boosted sales of new cars whilst |
| sales in Scotland rose by more than 27% compared | | | | also removing more carbon emitting 'old bangers' from |
| to the same period last year, and more than double | | | | the roads. The scheme was originally going to cover |
| the overall UK increase of 11.4%. Figures released | | | | the cost of 300,000 cars, but in September, after calls |
| state that 37,000 vehicles were sold in Scotland in | | | | for an extension from the industry, the Government |
| September 2009, compared to 29,000 in the same | | | | announced that an extra 100,000 vehicles would be |
| month in 2008. | | | | added to the scheme, bringing the total allocation to |
| September is an extremely important month for the | | | | 400 million pounds. |
| car industry, with the release of new registration plates | | | | There is no doubt that car dealers in Scotland are in a |
| providing a massive boost to sales. It is positive news | | | | better place than they were last year. Dealers |
| that sales have increased as much as they have, and | | | | throughout the north and north-east of the country, in |
| it give car dealers. This is the third consecutive monthly | | | | particular, have seen considerable sales increases. |
| increase after a rise of 2.4% in July and 6% in August. | | | | Sales of new cars in Tayside were up almost 34% to |
| The scrappage scheme has been hailed as the | | | | 2,499, Highland sales were up nearly 19% to 1,797, |
| saviour of the ailing UK car industry which has been hit | | | | whilst Grampian sales rose 11.6% to 3,358. Whilst sales |
| by the global recession. However, overall sales are still | | | | figures have not reached the peaks of a few years |
| down around 15.5% to date on last year, so the | | | | ago, there is no doubt that without the scrappage |
| industry is not out of the woods yet as market | | | | scheme, sales would be much lower, and the state of |
| conditions continue to be challenging. The scheme | | | | the UK car industry would be much worse. Only time |
| works on the idea that motorists trade in a car that is | | | | will tell how the industry will cope once the scheme |
| 10 year old or older in exchange for 2000 pounds off | | | | has ended. |
| the price of a new car. One thousand pounds is | | | | |