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US to Buy 17,000 Cars and Trucks

There's nothing more reassuring than to see your own government give its best to save your bankruptcy sinking business. At least this is what the former Detroit Three must think. After the US has offered more than one way for automakers to get out of trouble (financial aid, cash for clunkers bill, the soon to be greenhouse bill), another good news comes from Washington.

The federal government will buy in excess of 17,000 cars and trucks from GM, Ford and Chrysler, to be used by a variety of departments and federal agencies, as outlined in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Autonews reported.

According to the US General Services Administration $287 million will be spent, in all for the purchase of the vehicles, as it follows: 6,348 GM vehicles for $105 million; 7,924 Ford vehicles for $129 million and 2,993 Chrysler models for $53 million.

And it gets even better, for GM, at least. By placing an order for some 917 units Pontiac G6 vehicles, the US does its part in helping the manufacturer clear out its Pontiac inventory, prior to the brand being phased out.

Among the vehicles to be purchased, hybrids are also included. In accordance, the US will buy 1,150 Chevrolet Malibu, 1,000 Ford Escape, 900 Ford Fusion, and 50 Saturn Vue, all in their hybrid versions.

Don't think though that it's all green. Alongside the hybrids, 930 Ford F-150s and 600 Chevrolet Silverado will also be bought. Not to mention the 1,650 Dodge Caravan...

To enter the government's purchasing program, the vehicles must have a higher miles-per-gallon rating than the one it replaces; the overall purchase must result in a combined fuel-efficiency increase of at least 10% and the purchase must come from vehicles that are currently available.

Deliveries of the vehicles have already started and they will continue through the duration of summer.
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About the author: Daniel Patrascu
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Daniel loves writing (or so he claims), and he uses this skill to offer readers a "behind the scenes" look at the automotive industry. He also enjoys talking about space exploration and robots, because in his view the only way forward for humanity is away from this planet, in metal bodies.
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