Archive for the ‘Hyundai Assurance’ Category

Hyundai's Assurance Program has been a big hit with consumers and a big boost to Hyundai's bottom line. The program -- which allows buyers who lose their jobs to return Hyundai vehicles -- was the first such program out of the gate, and it has contributed to the astounding 20% sales increase Hyundai has racked up over the first three quarters of 2009. (That figure is doubly shocking when you consider that during the same period, auto sales in the U.S. fell about 30% across-the-board.) Not surprisingly, Hyundai now says it may continue the Assurance Program into 2010. Since the company has had to refund purchases for fewer than 50 customers...

General Motors' new "60-Day Satisfaction Guarantee" (pitched by new CEO Ed Whitacre in the TV spot above) has sparked a good bit of comment, both positive and negative. Those in support of the policy argue that GM has finally taken notice of customer-oriented programs offered by its competitors (e.g. Hyundai Assurance), which have proven popular with the general public and often stimulated sales without hurting the bottom line.

On the other hand, detractors argue that the gist of Hyundai's Assurance program is that the company will take back cars if the buyer loses his or her job. GM's plan, on the other hand, allows customers to return...

Final details about the federal government's new Cash-for-Clunkers program--clunkily and officially titled the "Car Allowance Rebate System"--won't be released until July 23, but that hasn't stopped Hyundai from getting a jump on the competition. Hoping to ride the wave of great publicity it's received for its Car of the Year award, its successful Assurance Program, and its recent gas-price guarantee, Hyundai has backed its dealers with short-term cash advances so they can begin issuing the $3,500 - $4,500 credits for clunker swaps.

Apparently, it's working: the company had its first Cash-for-Clunkers trade-in when Katherine Michon of...