@ccf: in your point of view there is a big misunderstanding.
yes, it is thought as a help for the car-industry. but think logical: people, who have an old, worthless car -less value than the 2500 euro, the govrnment will pay- is usually not the typical customer-ship to buy a brand new car. no money or no interest, or both. when you dont have money for a new car, the 2500 euro dont help you, because you need more. and if these people would be really buying a new car, they will not choose a mercedes, bmw or an audi, rahter something small, economic - but cheap, small cars arent made in germany, they are mainly from korea or romania. so this will not help the german car-industry.

indeed, i just read an article about the first results of this 2500 euro-auction. the big winner is - dacia. with these 2500 euro they can make the big advertises: "a brand new car for just 5000 euro". the selling of kia and the korean chevrolets goes up, too in germany. opel-dealers are selling a lot of corsa and the smallest astra-versions - but signum, insigna and vectra are still standing around. but these bigger cars are the cars, the companies are making money.