"I told you so"

Sept. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Chrysler Group LLC, the U.S. automaker run by Fiat SpA, said nationwide industry sales are off 19 percent so far this month after a government purchase- incentive program ended.

“We are going to see harsh reality in September,” Sergio Marchionne, the chief executive officer of Fiat and Chrysler, said at the Frankfurt Motor Show. He described the U.S. industry results as a “disaster.” Fritz Henderson, CEO of General Motors Co., said the market is “very weak” this month.

Disaster eh?

But but but I thought all those "cash for clunkers" buyers were people who wouldn't have bought a car otherwise?

Looks like that was a load of BS out of the administration.... just like all the other so-called "stimulus" programs.

Just another example of pulling forward demand, which works exactly once per application, but then leaves a gaping, sucking hole where demand would have been in the subsequent months.

PS: Expect them to try some sort of BS similar with the expiring "Home Clunker" $8,000 rebate program that is ending in a couple of months.  The two problems with it are the same as the problems here - the consumer is tapped out and can't afford to buy (witness the FHA default rates in excess of 20%!) and those who DO buy anyway find themselves in a financial position they cannot really afford and didn't think through.

In addition you further drain the demand pool and thus when the "stimulus" ends (and all must eventually end) you find yourself with no real buyers left!

All this faux "demand" being generated by the so-called "stimulus" is just doing more damage to the economy - damage that is accruing and will come to the surface with devastating effect.