Cash for clunkers scheme will hit repairers, says auto parts group CEO.(Brief article)

Byline: Bettina John

Car repairers and auto parts dealers expect to suffer because of Germany's cash for clunkers incentive program.

The scheme took about 2 million cars that were nine years old or more off the market, said Hans-Juergen Wahlen, head of the GVA auto parts company. The program paid buyers to swap old cars for new models and ran from February to early September.

"In general, the owners of these older vehicles were most inclined to have their cars maintained and repaired in independent repair shops and were the most important buyers of parts from independent vehicle parts dealers," Wahlen said.

In the mid term, car repairers and auto …