As everyone knows, the auto industry is on the skids. In December sales of cars and light trucks fell by 36% to 896,124 vehicles, with Chrysler down 53%, GM down 31% and Ford down 32%. Toyota, with sales also down, is suspending production in Japan for 11 days.
The auto industry is facing two major problems: The first is whether to produce SUVs or cars. George Pipas at Ford seems to believe that customers will tend toward buying more cars in the coming year. The second major problem facing the auto industry is how to get customers into the showrooms.
The usual promotions to the consumer are "cash back" offers. But Hyundai has come up with the most creative and unique promotional program yet. Hyundai will let customers return their cars for up to a year if they lose their jobs or can't make the payments.
You can bet that as times get tough manufacturers and retailers will come up with a variety of "far out" deals. Whether or not they will work is anyone's guess.
Would you buy a Hyundai?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-06-2009 @ 5:35PM
Mike O said...
That deal got my attention... and got me thinking...
1-06-2009 @ 5:43PM
Mel said...
GM is selling red tags. Chrysler is selling explosions and crashes. Ford is selling F-150 pickup trucks. Guess which company is the only one on message........Ford. The other two have no idea what I am talking about.
1-20-2009 @ 7:16PM
dave said...
NO----------I WOULD NOT BUY A HUNDI----I WOULD NOT BE SEEN IN ONE, OR ANY IMPORT FOR THAT MATTER. I DONT AGREE WITH THESE ORIENTAL COUNTRIES TRADE IDEAS---------THEY DONT BUY OUR PRODUCTS!
1-06-2009 @ 7:36PM
RH said...
Already did just a few months ago. Deals were too good to pass up :)
1-06-2009 @ 8:53PM
Michele said...
My Ford F150 is six years old and running like a charm. Would buy no other brand, no matter how good the deal is. Buy American, save our ecomony!
1-06-2009 @ 10:54PM
BELLCORD said...
WELL THE LOCAL FORD DEALER IS OFFERING FREE DONUTS WITH LAP DANCES IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SO I'M WAIVERING...
1-06-2009 @ 11:00PM
Grumpy said...
Toyota, Honda and the early imports took nearly 30 years, Hyundai about 15 and the Chinese and Indians are coming. We are now in their countries in a serious way, they are here in a serious way. We had better figure out to do one of two things, compete or fold. New World Order, nothing you or I can do about it.
1-07-2009 @ 5:29AM
al coholic said...
Bellcord....what town do you live in....just wondering. I have a little vacation time left. LOL
1-07-2009 @ 1:40PM
Equity said...
Auto industry give back deals:
If they can do this now when the market is in such peril- then they could have done it all along, right?
Are you kidding me?
They just want your money! Wake the bleep up! How did I get warped into this crazy movie with all you thick, egomaniacal, greedy, materialistic, evil monkeys?