The Obama administration said today that the vehicles produced by Detroit’s Big 3 accounted for 47 percent of the first 80,000 Cash for Clunkers (Cars Allowance Rebate System) sales. Through this past Saturday afternoon, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has processed 80,500 transactions.

FoMoCo’s 2009 Ford Focus was the top-selling vehicle in the program, said the White House.

According to White House spokesman Robert Gibbs, buyers should be able to take advantage of the Cash for Clunkers program until Friday. However, he warned that the program could be shutdown before the weekend if the Senate doesn’t agree to add another $2 billion to the pot.

The House has already approved the $2 billion increase. The Senate will meet on Wednesday or Thursday to vote.

NHTSA said about 250,000 vehicles will be able to take part in the original $1 billion program.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Detroit News