Car sales in France are expected to hit 2.27 million in 2009, the largest jump in sales in nearly two decades, due to the government's cash-for-clunkers program, a minister said on Dec. 28.
Industry Minister Christian Estrosi said the figure represented a 10% jump from last year and is the biggest since 1990 when 2.3 million cars were sold.
The French government last year launched a subsidy scheme to encourage people to trade in an old car for a new more environmentally-friendly model.
Several governments have used such a measure to support their auto industries during the global downturn.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2009
