GM campaign raises discount on all its vehicles by $1,000
By SARAH A. WEBSTER
Knight Ridder Newspapers
DETROIT — In an aggressive effort to stanch its bleeding market share, General Motors says it will immediately offer an additional $1,000 off all its vehicles — most already sold with big discounts — in conjunction with its Hot Button giveaway, which it will revive Monday.
The Hot Button program, which first ran in January and February last year, brought nearly 2 million consumers into GM showrooms for a chance to win a new car or truck. One thousand vehicles were given to consumers who pushed a blue OnStar button in a vehicle for a chance to win.
This time, the program runs from April 11 through May 31 and another 1,000 vehicles will be given away, including 58 models representing all GM divisions: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Hummer, Pontiac, Saab and Saturn.
This year, however, GM also will offer an extra $1,000 off all vehicles, except the Hummer H1, in an effort to get serious buyers to participate in the giveaway. That extra cash is available to consumers immediately.
For a slow-selling SUV like the Buick Rendezvous, which starts at $27,270, consumers now can get as much as $5,500 off the selling price, according to GM’s incentive Web site. Or buyers can opt for no-interest financing for up to 60 months, plus $1,000 in Hot-Button bonus cash.
Industrywide sales of new cars and trucks were flat during the first quarter, compared with the same period a year ago. But sales of new GM vehicles were down 5.2 percent during the period.
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