Washington  - The US government programme to entice Americans to give up their gas-guzzling clunkers has drained supplies of the small cars that qualify for rebates, the Detroit Free Press reported Saturday.

US President Barack Obama Friday signed off on congressional authorization for another 2 billion dollars to be pumped into the cash-for-clunker programmed after the first billion dollars went like hotcakes in its first week.

The newspaper reported that Chrysler Group is running low on its Dodge Caliber, Dodge Avenger, Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot.

Fords Focus and Escape are also running low, the Press reported, quoting WardsAuto. com.

But General Motors, Honda, Toyota and Nissan were keeping up with demand for their small cars, the Press reported.

The programme was to have run only until November, designed to kick-start US car sales that have plummeted in the deep recession, while also taking older cars that harm the environment off the road.

Consumers get up to 4,500 dollars towards a new car based on how much they improve their fuel efficiency. The administration hoped to take about 250,000 older cars and trucks out of circulation.

The money is being taken from a fiscal stimulus package approved earlier this year. (dpa)