Austria's government and car dealers agreed Friday on incentives worth 45 million euros (59 million dollars) for car owners to switch to newer models, in an effort to boost economic growth, according to dpa. As some 300,000 Austrian jobs depend directly and indirectly on car parts manufacturers and car dealers, Economic Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner said the bonus of 1,500 euros for each new car would "help workers, businesses, drivers and the environment." So far, eight European countries have introduced such incentives, including Germany and Italy. Austria was the only country where car dealers and importers were sharing the costs, Mitterlehner said. These businesses agreed to carry half of the incentives package. Environmental groups and the Green party criticized the new measure and said that the government should have supported public transport instead. "Those who use environmentally sound public transport or bicycles are made to look like fools," said Martin Blum, an expert with VCOe, an organization that promotes sustainable forms of transportation.
