Archive for the ‘rebates’ Category

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...

Yesterday afternoon, the US Senate passed a $2 billion extension to the Car Allowance Rebate Systems (CARS) program--better known as "Cash for Clunkers"--by a vote of 60 to 37. President Barack Obama is expected to sign it today.

The vote approved a bill identical to the one passed last Friday by the US House of Representatives, before it recessed for August. The Senate ends its session today, which lent urgency to the vote. The cash is expected to last roughly through Labor Day.

The Clunkers plan has been remarkably successful at getting consumers into car dealerships, and the program appeared to have run through its initial allocation of...

Richard Read just reported that the Senate passed car buyer-friendy legistlation yesterday, aimed at easing the financial burden of getting into a new car. Well, if Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow gets her way, the deal will get even sweeter for owners of aging autos; they will be able to get up to $10,000 towards the purchase of a new U.S.-made vehicle via proposed legislature dubbed 'Cash For Clunkers.'

In all, the plan would cost the government nearly as much as the tally for recent federal bailouts of Chrysler and General Motors: $16 billion. That money would send 1.5 billion clunkers to the crusher and give up to $10,000 towards...