A growing number of governments across Europe are providing incentives to drivers to trade in their gas guzzlers for new, more efficient models. In Germany, drivers receive about $3250 to trade in cars older than nine years. In France, the “scrappage” incentive is about $1300. Spain recently introduced a similar incentive plan, and Britain is considering one, and in each case, the measures are seen both as a response to the growing recession and as a means of helping these governments reach their green targets. As reported in The Telegraph, “hundreds of thousands of extra car sales are expected as a direct result of the scrappage scheme.”

It’ll be interesting to follow the effect of these programs. Could something similar ever fly in the U.S.? It would be nice knowing exactly where those bailout dollars were going.