Jalopnik: Incentives

GM Offering Dealers $250 For Every Customer They Don't Send To GMAC

Andrew Stoy — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EDT

Automotive News reports that GM is offering dealers up to $250 in bonus money for every loan they sell to a lender other than GMAC. This latest move follows Monday's report on GMAC tightening lending restrictions, and "is an encouragement for dealerships to seek out other sources of funding," says Mike Mullaney of Hudson Pontiac-Buick-GMC in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. The program pays salespersons $100, sales managers $100 and an "employee of choice" (most likely the finance manager) another $50 for non-GMAC transactions.

An end date isn't specified, but the incentive applies to all 2008 and 2009 Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Saturn and Hummer vehicles. If you buy a new GM vehicle with an outside lender, make sure you negotiate for some of that spiff off your your purchase price. [Automotive News, Sub. Req.]

Chrysler Gas Deal Not Wildly Effective

Ray Wert — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:07:12 EDT

The big focus of Chrysler’s $2.99 gas deal for three years is current events; it doesn’t address the company’s current lineup of vehicles, which have mostly seen declining sales. We’ll post a series of stories today about cash back offers that have been added to the gas deal for all three Chrysler brands, but to preface that, here is a list of vehicles that sold fewer units in May (with the $2.99 gas deal) than in April (before the gas deal). May is traditionally a better sales month overall, as well. An * means the model saw an improvement in May 2008 sales over May 2007.nbsp;

As you can see below, 11 of the automaker’s most popular models declined while nine improved month to month. We excluded outgoing models and niche vehicles like the Dodge Viper and Sprinter.

Declining Sales

Model: April sales number; May sales number

Chrysler

300: 5,771; 4,763
PT Cruiser: 5,807; 5,203
Aspen*: 2,135; 2,037
Town & Country: 10,723; 12,869

Jeep

Liberty: 6,642; 6,228
Commander: 2,643; 2,061

Dodge

Charger*: 13,021; 10,134
Ram: 24,206; 19,727
Caravan: 14,665; 13,655
Durango: 2,568; 1,360
Nitro: 3,299; 2667

Improving Sales

Model: April sales number; May sales number

Chrysler

Sebring: 5,376; 7,124

Jeep

Compass: 2,804; 3,114
Grand Cherokee: 6,597; 6,979
Patriot*: 6,348; 8,199
Wrangler: 8,699; 9,260

Dodge

Caliber: 8,825; 12,856
Avenger: 5,666; 6,354
Dakota: 2,564; 3,605
Journey: 6,667; 7,520

Chrysler's $2.99 Gas A Good Deal... For Chrysler

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 07 May 2008 07:30:00 EDT

As with other auto media outlets, we've been closely following Chrysler's "Let's Refuel America" program, which is offering three years of $2.99 gas for anyone who buys a Dodge, Jeep or Chrysler vehicle (that isn't a Challenger, Viper, Wrangler, Sprinter Van or other popular vehicles). After a few back-of-the-envelope calculations we're starting to see this is a good deal for Chrysler and, at best, a mediocre rebate for consumers. For one thing, in lieu of other rebates, Chrysler doesn't necessarily have to put all of these expenses on their books right away when it records the sale, which could be a PR boon for the automaker while it tries to buy time for the "New Day" that's coming. But most importantly, the amount of money that a consumer can save is maybe less than most expected.

Let's start with an extreme example by choosing the Chrysler Aspen SUV with the large 5.7-Liter V8, which isn't exactly a teetotaler when it comes to gas. We'll assume 12,000 miles a year with an average gas price of $3.61, which is what AAA considers the average gas price for this week. The Aspen gets 13 mpg city and 18 mpg highway. In all city driving you'd use 923 gallons of gas a year with a savings of $0.62 per gallon for a total savings of $572 a year or $1,716 over the three years. In all highway driving you use 667 gallons of gas for a total yearly savings of $413 and a three-year savings of $1,240.

That isn't bad, if they let you keep the other rebates. Last month, the suggested incentive on a Chrysler Aspen was a $3,000 instant cash rebate. Assuming a three-year savings of $1,500 in combined driving at $0.62 savings you'd need gas to go to approximately $4.85 per gallon to even it out.

To use a more regular example, the Chrysler 300 with the 2.7-Liter V6 gets 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. Under the same circumstances you get $1,240 at one extreme with all city driving and $859 with all highway driving. Given that they offer up to $3,000 cash incentives on the Chrysler 300 as well, you're talking about a bad deal for consumers if they pass on the cash for the gas savings.

And what if your car takes more than regular gas? Here's what Chrysler's own press release has to say:

"If mid-grade or premium unleaded fuel is purchased, the customer will be billed for the $2.99 plus $.15 per gallon for mid-grade (88-89 octane) or plus $.30 for premium (90-94 octane)."

This means that you're now taking up to $.30 off of your average savings, meaning that if you use the card when gas drops to $3.28 and you're using premium that you'll actually be losing money.

And what happens if gas drops to closer to $3.00 a gallon? Your rebate is suddenly a big, fat zero. The one thing that is clear is that Chrysler is desperate to move inventory and, if you play your cards right, a deal is to be had. Just make sure you consider all the facts and don't pass on an instant cash rebate if you think it could outweigh the cost of gas savings over three years. Obviously, the best deal is a rebate and gas savings, so make sure to ask as Chrysler is saying that this is available on some vehicles. [Source: Chrysler , Houston Chronicle[

Cadillac DTS

Mike Spinelli — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 13:32:58 EDT

In a recent TV spot for Cadillac, a quartet of hipster goofballs in skinny ties pulls up to a diner in a DTS sedan. Once parked, they're confronted by a similar gang of craggy late-fiftysomethings in Jhane Barnes casualwear, apparently on break from a Cialis shoot. Noticing their young counterparts have arrived in the same type of Caddy sedan in which they're leaving, one of the elders says in his best Dennis Hopper, "I see you're drivin' a Cadillac." One of the youngsters replies, in that irony-tinged pattern of speech that signifies a true douchebag, "And I see you're doing the very same."

After an awkward beat, one of the grizzled lot — who looks strikingly like ex-footballer Jim Brown, minus the dashiki — delivers the punchline, "Welcome to the world of gentlemen, gentlemen." Cadillac is trying for the double win here, making the multiplicitous statements that A.) The DTS is a car for older men, but B.) Older men are not irrelevant, C.) Young guys are self-aware to know they're not as hip as they think they are, and D.) The DTS is workable as an ironic statement car for guys who spent 10th grade memorizing lines from "Swingers." It's a tall order. Normally, all that brand confusion would be the death knell for a sedan (see Buick), but with the DTS, the dual polarity just cancels itself out.

Now, you can just pick one up and loll down the road, knowing that barely anyone fell for Cadillac's hail-mary ad ploy, and you've basically got the DTS to yourself. Cadillac's offering $4000 cash back and zero-percent financing up to 60 months. Have at it, gentlemen. [via MSN Autos]

GM to pay dealers cash bonus for each and ...

Ray Wert — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 08:30:00 EDT

GM to pay dealers cash bonus for each and every vehicle they sell between now and August 31st. No word on whether they'll give out more for selling the Aveo. [Detroit News]

Is the next big incentive from automakers ...

Ray Wert — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 17:05:00 EDT

Is the next big incentive from automakers free car insurance? Apparently they already be doing it down under, mate. [MSNBC]

GM Goes Sir-Mix-A-Lot, Doubles Up Incentives On Light-Trucks!

Ray Wert — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 18:00:00 EDT

From Automotive News just a few minutes ago:

"General Motors is boosting the rebates on some of its new 2007 model pickups to $2,000 from $1,000. GM tonight will give dealers details on a new round of incentives that start Tuesday, July 10, in most states.

GM said it is boosting the rebates on the light-duty versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups. The move comes after sales of both vehicles plummeted in June after Toyota offered huge rebates on its new Tundra pickup."

And the game continues...

GM doubles some light truck incentives (sub. req.) [Automotive News]

When in Rome: Toyota Adds Incentives on Tundra

Mike Spinelli — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 08:42:33 EDT

Upside-down on your Ford or GM truck loan? Toyota wants you in a new Tundra, and it's offering a very un-Toyotalike benefit: Money. The company's latest incentive deal adds a trade-in allowance of $1000 atop existing incentives totaling $2,000. The deals are causing widespread snickering to break out among US automakers, who couldn't be more relieved to see Toyota altering its business practices to fit in, rather than glibly logging another blowout product. Toyota's defense is that the bulk of the incentives are on the single cab-model, which it says comprises only 10 percent of sales, and no incentives are available on the CrewMax model. Yet. – Mike Spinelli

Toyota Deepens Discounts on Its New Pickup [New York Times (sub req.)]

Related:
San Antonio Stroll: Toyota Tundra Priced [internal]

Incentives Like To Live On The Edge Too

Ray Wert — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 07:31:00 EST

Automotive New is reporting FoMoCo's now offering $500 off on the base model of their new CUV to give it a bit more sales "oomph!" Pardon us for being a bit worried here, but wasn't the turnaround effort at the Dearborn, MI based automaker supposed to be "an Edge-based turnaround." Because you know, the Edge is the automaker's "flagship" and stuff. – Ray Wert

Deal of the Day: Maserati Quattroporte

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 14:38:38 EST

Want to save $15,000 on a Maserati Quattroporte? Just finance one of the $103,700 Italinate boulevardiers for 60 months at just — hang on to your fruit leather — just 1.9%. That's correct, the company is offering tremendous savings on the sedan, though inventory is tight, likely because, well just because. Of course, you'll have to wait a few months for the new automatic, but if you don't mind paddle shifting in sport mode (or skulking around in autobox mode), it's probably time to make the deal. – Mike Spinelli

Year-End Maserati Incentives [Kicking Tires]

Dealer Dollars: Chrysler Gives Dealers Incentive, But Will They Give It To You?

Ray Wert — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 14:24:23 EST

The 'merican side of the German-American hybrid's already shown a penchant for descent down the slippery sales ladder of incentives without saying they're incentives. Hell, maybe they're just lying to themselves. Whether they're telling the truth or just truthiness, the Detroit News is reporting today the chieftains in the sales and marketing team run by Joe "Direct Mail" Eberhardt have instituted a plan where they're giving dealers anywhere from $2,500 (on the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300) to $7,000 (on the Dodge Ram and Durango) for 2006 models. Why the need? Well, even though the kids in Auburn Hills have cut inventories from the highs of 647,000 vehicles in July to 499,000 reported yesterday for November, '06 models still account for 32% of current inventory. That's a lot of "old" model year cars and trucks to try to be shipping out the dealer doors n' lots. But, that means...

...if you're in the market for a new vehicle and you're willing to take the 2006 model — you'll be able to get a helluva deal from your dealer. That is, if your dealer's looking to share that money — because anything not used out of the unadvertised "dealer incentive" goes right back into their pockets. That means there's now a good way to see if your Chrysler Group dealer's playing you a fair deal, or just playing you. – Ray Wert

$$$ for Chrysler dealers [Detroit News]

Breaking! GM To Offer 100,000 Mile / 5-Year Powertrain Warranty, Roadside Assistance On All 2007 Models

Ray Wert — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 13:16:55 EDT

According to GM's online public streaming feed site, GMTV, the General will be offering up a helping of image quality at 1:00 PM today:

"GM to Provide 100,000-mile/5-year Powertrain Warranty, Roadside Assistance and Courtesy Transportation on all 2007 US and Canada Cars and Trucks."

We've sent Wert down to cover it live and sniff out what's up at the RenCen this afternoon. [Hat tip to Jeffrey!]

GM Announces Best Warranty [GMTV]

Chrysler Tells Dealers To Eat Their Durangos -- How Can They Have Any Calibers If They Don't Eat Their Trucks and SUV's?

Ray Wert — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 12:31:54 EDT

As we heard yesterday in the Tom LaSorda press scrum-n'-tumble out in Auburn Hills, the German-American hybrid's running into some troubles with inventories of trucks and the Dodge Durango. But, as was told to us yesterday — at the same time, they're working to boost the small car / mid-size SUV side of the sales ratio, pushing those new Dodge Calibers out to dealers to sell as quickly as their ~~Mexican~~ Illinois-based plant can birth them. Or at least that was what we've been told. Instead, Katie Merx over at the Freep's reporting that the boys n' girls in Auburn Hills, during a super-double-secret sat-call to dealers, explained they won't be getting those quick-selling-like-a-bunny Calibers unless they're also buying the slow-selling-as-molasses Dodge Ram trucks and Dodge Durangos. And not just a few more, but 50% more than what dealers originally requested — an additional 90 days' worth of supply. But hey, they're going to try to make it easier...

...on both the dealer and the consumers by offering more...wait for it...incentives!

That's right, for just one week only, Chrysler will be offering $750 to $1,500 to customers who buy vehicles that haven't sold for at least 146 days. And that's on top of the employee pricing and 0% financing. But that just helps the consumer out — what about the dealers who now have to pay for the finacing costs? Well, Chrysler told dealers last week they'd help them foot the bill on financing costs for anything thats been sitting on the lot longer than 80 days.

Isn't that kind of Chrysler? Ask dealers to book those slow-sellers as sales, and then...when 3rd quarter numbers and August sales come out — look at all those sales they made. There's hardly any drop in light trucks. You know what Chrysler should have done, instead of dresisng up PR man Jason Vines at the United Way event yesterday? How about Tom LaSorda dressed up as a magician?

DCX puts dealers in a bind [Freep]

Deeper, Dr. Z, Deeper! Chrysler Sweetens The Incentives Pot For Employees

Ray Wert — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 09:54:11 EDT

Seems employees of the Auburn Hills end of DaimlerChrysler are feeling a bit miffed they're merely getting the same deal as the rest of the public on the cars they help build. Lucky for them, Dr. Z must have heard their pleas (potentially through the Ask site) and now the German-American hybrid is offering an additional $500 to $1,000 in rebates on select 2006 model Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles to Chrysler Group employees. The price adjustments mean Chrysler workers will have up to $2,500 in bonus cash on top of their employee discount. Like a shiny little feather in the water, Metro Detroit area dealers are hoping the incentive will lure Chrysler employees into the showroom, allowing them to sink the hook in.

Chrysler deepens employee incentives [Detroit News]

Breaking! GM's Offering An Incentive Potpourri -- Except It Swears It's Not

Ray Wert — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 13:57:41 EDT

GM — still sticking to the "value pricing" strategy announced today incentives on six of eight vehicle brands. That means if you're in the market (and GM's hoping you are) for a Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Saab and Saturn — you'll be able to subtr...err...get an interest rate of...hmm...cash back on...wait, what exactly is the incentive program. Let's ask the Freep:

"In keeping with a push to better distinguish GM's brands, he said, the automaker today will launch advertising for the discounts that is different for each participating brand.

Saturn's program, for instance, lets customers subtract 10 percent from the sum of the sticker price and destination charges, or choose other GM discounts. Other brands will pitch rebates and financing deals."

All for one and one for...umm...each other?

GM touts sweeter financing deals [Freep]

Deal of the Day: Still the Lincoln LS, Town Car Too

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 14:00:00 EDT

The negotiations continue. We say we're not interested in buying a Lincoln LS at MSRP, and FoMoCo knocks off grand after grand like Dom Deluise knocks off pasta Bolognese. Now, the floor-clearing rebate on the outgoing model's up to $9,000, and we're considering whether we really need to continue paying the rent when we can have a leather living room for practically nothing. The line forms to the left for rear-drive, V8-powered Jaguar S-type platform mates. Line up on the right to get a Town Car with $8,000 off the top. They're going, er, slow, so get 'em while they're, uh, lukewarm.

Top 10 Cash-Back List Updated: Chrysler Pacifica Makes the Cut [Kicking Tires Blog]

Something Rotten in Detroit: AutoExtremist And Jason Vines Spar On Incentives

maustin — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 18:57:04 EDT

Sweet Peet D. is at it again. This time he's taking the shine off of GM's recent buyout news and claiming it's not as rosy picture that most news outlets are reporting. The reason? Detroit's latest round of price-slashing is proof that the big three are still addicted to incentives. At least this time GM understands that a sale shouldn't last forever, says Sweet Peet D., but we're still holding our breath until it ends — incentives have a way of sticking around. But wait, wait — Sweet Peet ain't stopping there...

...just yet. Who's he going after next? Why none other than that German-American hybrid of a multi-national, DaimlerChrysler. Specifically, he's taking Chrysler (or Dodge, or the entire Chrysler Group or maybe even Plymouth — we can't keep track as he mixes ad messages from the different brands in his rant) to task for using Dieter Zetsche as its new spokesman — claming a concept of German engineering married to American heritage (the word on the street is that's the direction the ads will take) not only won't work, but it'll probably backfire as Chrysler Group tries to sell its newest incentives program.

Guess who's not gonna take this one laying on the floor? That's right kids, it's our friendly neighborhood Spider-PR-Man, Jason Vines, swinging in to aid his boss. Vines, on a post on the media-only Firehouse blog had the following little comment we think speaks for itself sans our own spin:

Peter, Peter, Dieter Eater Posted Jun 28, 2006, 16:44 PM by Jason Vines
Peter DeLorenzo, who runs the website Autoextremist.com, has written something that's extremely lame. I would return his criticism in private however his blog is very public, and so I'm doing it publicly. He blasted Dieter and us for an upcoming ad campaign, which he said debuted today, Wednesday, June 28.

First, Peter, get your facts straight. We show the media the campaign on Friday morning. Second, if you're going to criticize an ad campaign, at least have the courtesy to see it first, otherwise your criticism is based on ignorance. C'mon Peter, you can do better than that. That was so Jayson Blair—now that's
www.autoextreme-lyWRONG.com

We love us a good automotive slap fight late on a Wednesday afternoon...

The Detroit Two-Step. [autoextremist.com]

Related:
Autoextremist Loves the Corvettes [internal]

Breaking! GM Returns To the Incentives Game: Announces Zero Percent Financing On Most Models

Ray Wert — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 15:43:50 EDT

And we thought GM had quit playing this game. General Motors sales chief Mark LaNeve announced today at a press briefing that not only would they be jumping back into the incentives mud again, but sales in June and July would be "brutal:"

"June and July sales aren't going to be a picnic...Our year-on-year comps are going to be especially brutal."

Yeah, somehow we didn't expect it to be a picnic — but brutal — wow, talk about honesty. It's kind of like a refreshing...

...drink of water after a long walk in the desert.

Anyway, after that bombshell of a quote, LaNeve then explained to the assembled press scrum the incentive program. It was rolled out to dealers this week will be called "The 72 Hour Sale" and will offer zero percent financing for up to six years on most 2006 Chevrolet, GMC, Pontiac and Buick models. Fine print: all good cars will more than likely be excluded.

GM announces return of zero percent financing on most models [Freep]

Breaking! Dieter Brings "Step Two" To Daytona; SRT Included In Incentive Program?

Ray Wert — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 08:55:00 EDT

So if you're planning on picking up a Dodge Viper to tool around in this summer — you may want to hold off. Word on the street from no less than two sources is the Chrysler Group will include all models of vehicles — including the Dodge Viper and the entire SRT lineup — in the employee pricing plan. In addition, according to Joe Guy Collier in yesterday's Freep, Dieter Zetsche and Tom LaSorda will be in attendance at the Pepsi 400 on July 1st in Daytona. Although they're not saying what the two high-powered execs will be doing at a high-powered racing event, but our best guess is it's a tie-in of some sort to the "Street and Racing Technology" the SRT folks are all about. Gossip and a best bet? You bet — but that's the way we gotta roll sometimes.

Top DCX execs to attend Pepsi 400 [Freep]

Summer Sales Fever: You Get An Employee Discount, And You Get An Employee Discount, And You...!

Ray Wert — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 11:41:56 EDT

As month-end quickly approaches, US auto execs are getting copies of their double-super-secret internal sales numbers — which probably explains why we've been seeing so many of their faces turning whiter than snow despite the hot June sun. Our insiders tell us they can already see the sales declines — and the fear of what's yet to come this summer. So what's that going to mean for consumers like us? Well, it'll more than likely mean the Big Three are yet again taking from the Oprah playbook — and looking to give it away, give it away, give it away now — just to get those ol' busted 2006 models out the door and off of the showroom floor. So if you're in the market for a new car, look forward to the same idyllic purchase prices of last summer as the automakers push out those employee pricing and big-league incentive plans again. The rumors we've heard are that each automaker's got their own twist on last summer's everything for a buck sale — everything from not-so-Bold Moves to the reveal of "Step 2" — and all of it's after the jump:

Ford: Although they've already stepped up to the plate this summer with the Taylor Hicks-approved "zero and zero" plan of 0% financing and $0 for gas. But, it doesn't look like even Taylor Hicks Idol-like power is keeping Ford from looking for employee purchasing mojo. As of earlier this week, Ford's "got family, and just like all their sisters" they've already announced employee purchasing in Canada, and like the growing tide of illegal immigration, there's no reason to believe they're gonna be stopped by something as silly as the border. But it's no fait accompli — we hear Ford's "Bold Move" is to wait and see what DaimlerChrysler and GM do first. That's how Ford's gonna drive America forward — by being innovative on everything but purchasing incentives.

Chrysler Group: Chrysler Group CEO Tom Lasorda told a group of reporters, us included (we know, it's totally not our normal thing and we apologize for it. Please realize the thought of actual reporting makes us want to vomit a little bit in our mouths — so if you want the story, you can always see what the Detroit News' Josee Valcourt wrote today — Josee's a professional, was standing right next to us, and seemed to actually be paying attention), yesterday in Chelsea the German-US hybrid of a car company's "preparing a new incentive program...[that] will surprise the marketplace." According to details we've heard from multiple sources, the "surprise" is a 30-day money-back guarantee and 0% financing on top of the already low employee pricing. Oh, and Dieter's personally unveiling "Step 2" in commercials a la Lee Iacocca.

GM: Ooh, this could be fun — what's the big boy on the block going to do? According to other reporters in Chelsea yesterday, GM"s claiming they're doing just fine with the value pricing — a plan whereby they price down the MSRP's to a number closer to the actual selling price, rather than relying on rebates and incentives and/or fleecing of the consumer at a price above and beyond what they're really selling for. But...just because they're "value pricing" gameplan won't allow them to drop their prices for the customers — there's nothing that says they can't drop interest-rates on the cars, right? The rumor in today's Freep article by Joe Guy Collier (who's much taller than we thought he'd be) is GM will be offering 0% interest on a six-year purchase. We mean, yeah — it's not an incentive if you just put it in a little bit and then, only on the interest, right?

Chrysler discount plan on tap [Detroit News]
Car incentive wars to heat up [Freep]

Deal of the Week: Get a Lincoln LS for the Price of a Zephyr

Mike Spinelli — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 15:39:43 EDT

We don't really have a Deal of the Week feature, but dammit if this one wouldn't be this week's if we did. Lincoln's offering $8,000 cash back on the 2006 LS, the brand's fast-fading but still desirable sports/touring sedan. A rear-driver, the LS is built on the same Ford DEW98 platform co-designed with Jaguar engineers to accommodate the S-Type, and for '06 is only offered with a 3.9-liter variant of the Jaguar AJ-V8, producing 280 hp. That incentive brings the base MSRP down from $39,285 to a more manageable $31,285 — nearly the same as the 2005 V6 model phased out in favor of the new Zephyr. Alas, the cash is part of an inventory draw-down following the end of LS production this past April. Get 'em while they're still relatively hot. [UPDATE: Check out what TTAC thinks of the Lincoln LS.]

Top 10 Cash-Back Offers [Cars.com]

Related:
The Ghosts of Lincoln Town Car Future [internal]

Sell A Ford, Get A Fleece

Ray Wert — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 14:15:30 EDT

In an e-mail today to employees and retirees penned by Mark Fields, president of Ford's North and South American operations, he explained how FoMoCo's going to attack Ford's lackluster sales — used car salesman incentive packages! That's right, Ford's offering employees and retirees who have friends and family members use their limited purchasing plan certificates all sorts of goodies — like Ford-brand fleece jackets, messenger bags. and...for the really hard workers, an opportunity for lunch with Bill Ford Jr. Maybe he'll even let you use the executive washroom!

Ford enlists workers for sales [Detroit News]

Incentives? We Don't Need No Stinkin' Incentives!

Ray Wert — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 23:43:18 EDT

Looks like Dodge may have a bit of a hit on their hands with the Caliber. Although still too early to tell, sales of DaimlerChrysler's entry-level CUV have been so good the corporate office has ordered dealers to nix employee discounts. Which leads us to the question on all our minds — what's the benefit to working for an automaker again? Just curious.

Chrysler stops discount for Caliber [CNN/Money]

You Get Zero Percent Financing, And You Get Zero Percent Financing!

Ray Wert — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 10:10:15 EDT

Ford, pulling a page from the Oprah playbook, decided the small-scale test of zero percent financing for hybrid Escape and hybrid Mariner SUVs in Cali and DC was good enough for all to enjoy. So, feel free to run out to one of your local Ford dealers right now to take advantage of some interest-ing finance deals. But hurry, cause ya only have until July 5th.

Ford extends 0% financing on hybrids to entire U.S. [AutoWeek]

Related:
More incentives [internal]

Tahoe Truthiness: Ol' Busted Versus New Hotness

Ray Wert — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 18:25:23 EST

We decided we would pick up the glove dropped during today's podcast. With the helpful advice and numbers from some very enterprising young readers, we decided we should do our own experiment. We called three Metro Detroit Chevy dealers, to find out how much in incentives and rebates we could get if we wanted to walk away today with either a 2006 or 2007 Chevy Tahoe. While sampling three Chevy Dealerships located within the same metropolitan area is obviously lacks geographic diversity, it's a blog post, so you can't sue us.

With that caveat out of the way, here's what we found:

Metro Detroit Chevy Dealership #1

Dealer: Joe Lunghamer Chevrolet of Waterford

Name: Miguel

2006 Ol' Busted: "Why would you want one? Have you seen the interior of the 2007? As far as the 2006, we've got nothing on the lots to sell. I've got a line of four customers who want one and I can't find any with the options they want."

2007 New Hotness: "There's nothing much on them from GM to give..."

Metro Detroit Chevy Dealership #2

Dealer: Cauley Chevrolet of West Bloomfield

Name: John

2006 Ol' Busted: "$1000 rebate right off the bat, but you may qualify for more. Have you leased a Chevy before? If you have I can give you 0% financing for 72 months."

2007 New Hotness: "We can give you 3.9% / 4.9% financing...as far as rebates or cash...sorry, we're just not offering anything on it right now. They are selling too fast for GM to offer..."

Metro Detroit Chevy Dealership #3

Dealer: Joe Panian of Southfield

Name: Joe (no relation to Mr. Panian)

2006 Ol' Busted: "Well, I can give you...$1,000 from GM and then there's the 0% financing if you can qualify."

2007 New Hotness: "I'm getting more in, but they're leaving just as quickly. If you need an incentive on the truck, call back in a few months...we're just selling them so quick right now."

So there you have it. It looks like at least here in Metro Detroit, the 2007's are selling pretty fast and the 2006's with rebates sold pretty fast too. Maybe Automotive News had it right. Just as important, maybe GM has it right. The truth is that time will tell.

The Jalopnik Morning Shift

Ray Wert — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 07:50:00 EST

So whatever happened to that whole "value pricing inititative" at the General? They must not have been talking about lease incentives, because they're leading the way in 'March Madness' lease deals. Makes me wish that maybe I should have waited a couple of months before picking up my new lease. [WSJ]
Chrysler plans on spending $1 billion to upgrade the Toluca, Mexico plant. The plant builds the unaffectionately UAW-nicknamed PT "Pinto" Cruiser. [Edmunds]
GM continues its direction away from the much-touted "alliance strategy" of the 1990's by cutting its stake in Suzuki. GM expects they will net $550 to $750 million from the sale. When asked why they sold a huge chunk of the partnership, GM responded "We need the dues". [The Car Connection, NYT]
Eiji Toyoda learned all there was to know about the assembly line from a short visit to Ford Motor Company in 1950. He went home to Japan and turned his small Toyota Automotive into the Toyota Motor Company. That didn't go so well for Ford, who has now been surpassed by Toyota. The New York Times seems to think they may not have learned from that mistake. We tend to agree, but did you have to lambast the ENTIRE city of Detroit to point it out? [NYT]
Expectations are that Toyota will be announcing production of Camry sedans at the Subaru plant in Lafayette, Indiana. Toyota is expected to receive $94 million is state and local incentives to retool the plant. Five bucks to the first person who can tell me how many times the word "Hoosier" will be used in the press conference. [Bloomberg]
DaimlerChrysler's Annual Report states that the "US economy is increasingly dependent on the inflow of foreign capital to finance its rapidly growing current-account deficit" as a source of "considerable risk". You mean deficit spending is bad for the economy? Really? Huh. We SO never would have guessed that. [DaimlerChrysler, The Car Connection]
Ford is an "Ikon" no more in the South African car market. But fear not loyal Ford of India employees, they'll still be selling the pick-up version in Cape Horn. [Financial Express]
Saturn workers adapt to the "layoff atmosphere" in Tennesese. Auto workers around the US respond "Welcome to the party" [Tennessean.com]
Kia, not to be confused with their corporate baby-daddy Hyundai, is opening up a plant set to create 5,500 jobs in West Point, GA. Which is good, because now people won't be confusing this West Point with the other West Point. So remember, the West Point in Georgia makes value-based South Korean autos and the one in New York...well, they will still make the leaders of the finest military force known to humanity.[AP, Macon Telegraph]
So let me get this straight. The problem isn't that automakers aren't hiring minority designers, but that the schools aren't producing them? [Detroit News]

Ford, Chrysler Announce New Incentives

Mike Spinelli — Fri, 03 Feb 2006 08:16:30 EST

Both Ford and Chrysler had a better January than most sweater salesmen did (though not better than umbrella salesmen), but both will offer new incentives to try and keep up the momentum. Ford, whose sales rose two percent in the US from the year earlier, anted up another $500 on the Focus sedan — a total of $2500 in Focus incentification. At the same time, Chrysler, which saw a 16% improvement, is offering no-interest loans for up to five years on minivans, the Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Ram and Dakota pickups and Dodge Durango, Jeep Liberty, Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Commander SUVs. According to Autodata, while industry incentives averaged $2391 per vehicle, Ford's giveaways hit $2839 last month and Chrysler tithed $3317.
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Ford ups Focus car cash, Chrysler offers cheap loan [Reuters]

Related:
More on incentives [internal]

Screamin' Year End Deals!

Davey G. Johnson — Wed, 28 Dec 2005 14:26:31 EST

We're not sure if Jo-Jo Logan ever left his home in Tucson, Arizona for some California grass, but the man who may or may not have thought he was a loner owns the largest GM dealership in Mississippi and he's spending more on advertising this month to nail down some final year-end sales across the board. But the trend isn't limited to dealers in MS with funny names the automakers are upping incentives across the board to draw schlubs like us into the showroom. In fact, according to Edmunds and Autodata, the average incentive this month will hit $2,410, with incentives on some models cresting four grand as manufacturers attempt to get back to where they once belonged.

Car deals: Just $58 a month

Ford Responds to GM Red Tag Sale With Similar Incentive Program

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 17 Nov 2005 09:05:43 EST

Ford is the first of the remaining Big Two to craft a response to GM's year-end Red Tag Sale. The company is launching its own program, called Fuck You GM, during which it will leave its entire inventory parked on the street near a huge sign that'll read, "Free Car. Send Us Whatever You Think it's Worth. Postage Paid." Then we woke up to find Ford had actually announced a different scheme. Its "Keep It Simple ~~Stupid~~ Plan" riffs on GM's "not a penny more" theme by offering a "maximum price" printed on vehicles' window stickers, which is the shown MSRP minus a Simple Plan discount minus any cash incentives being offered. Chrysler hasn't piped up yet, but we hear they have doughnuts.

Related:
Between the Lines: GM s LaNeve on Red Tag Sale [internal]

Red Tag Days!: GM Launches New Discount Promotion

Mike Spinelli — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 09:18:32 EST

After a week of bad news for GM that had many in the financial community using the B word repeatedly ( no, not "brilliant"), the General announced a new, give-em-away plan to slash up to $4,400 from the list prices of its models. Notwithstanding the too-obvious metaphoric firepower of using the word "red" in a promotion (staring at that balance sheet for so long will do that), the Red Tag incentive program — on 2005- and 2006-model cars and light trucks through Jan. 3. — is an attempt to shore up market share by year's end in the face of cataclysmic drops in sales for 2005. The company says it's a combination of last December's Red Tag sale and this year's Employee Discount plans. Expect a new price-slashing showdown among manufacturers, including the Japanese, say analysts.

GM Launches "Red Tag" Program [The Detroit News]

Ford Kickstarts Fusion with Sales Incentives

Mike Spinelli — Wed, 31 Aug 2005 08:52:08 EDT

Ford, desperate to find marketplace traction for its 2006 Fusion, announced it will offer incentives totalling $1,000 on the sedan, including a $500 bonus to buyers who finance with Ford Motor Credit, and a down-payment match of up to $500. While the cars have yet to hit dealerships, Ford nonetheless wants to assure Fusion buyers that even though they're not "family," they'll at least be treated like a sister's friend's daughter's boyfriend who helped her move.

Ford Fusion Launches With Incentives [Edmunds]