Hyundai Motor Co's Canadian unit said on Wednesday it would top up the government of Canada's vehicle scrappage incentive program by up to C$1,000 ($910) per vehicle for people who trade in old gas guzzlers for a new Hyundai.

Ottawa currently offers C$300, to be put toward a newer vehicle, a bicycle, or a transit pass, to consumers looking to scrap their old vehicles in its Retire Your Ride program.

Hyundai said that if consumers used the federal incentive toward one of its vehicles, it would sweeten the offer by between C$500 and C$1000, depending on the vehicle.

With Hyundai topping up all government incentives, we hope to encourage a significant removal of old, polluting vehicles from our roads, Steve Kelleher, president and chief executive of Hyundai Auto Canada Corp, said in a statement.

The United States recently introduced a cash for clunkers program that offers a trade-in credit of $3,500 to $4,500 per qualifying vehicle in an attempt to spur sales and reduce pollution.

The U.S. move followed similar programs in European countries.

The Canadian province of British Columbia offers its own trade-in program of up to C$1,250 to get high-polluting vehicles off the roads.

($1=$1.10 Canadian)

(Reporting by John McCrank; editing by Peter Galloway)

Canada