Seeking to cash in on Toyota’s recent sticking accelerator issues, General Motors is offering a range of incentives to Toyota and Lexus owners.
Hoping that one of the world’s strongest examples of brand loyalty has been at least partially impacted by this latest case of unreliability, three options are available to owners of the Japanese brands until the end of February:
- Those with a Toyota lease get up to US$1000 to help terminate the Toyota lease and lease of buy a GM vehicle
- Customers financing a vehicle purchase get zero percent interest for up to five years
- Cash buyers get US$1000 off their purchase.
The incentive is available to all Toyota and Lexus owners (not just those affected by the recall) and applies to most new Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles.
Meanwhile, GM has confirmed that it will follow Toyota’s lead and suspend sales of the Pontiac Vibe – the sister car to the Toyota Matrix, also subjected to last week’s voluntary accelerator recall.
GM spokesman, Alan Adler, said there was around 1400 Vibes left in Canada and just two unsold in the US, adding that GM will not sell those two cars.
Mr Adler said he expected Toyota to finance all of the recall work and was waiting to receive instructions on the repair.
“Ultimately GM dealers would fix Pontiac vehicles, but it’s up to Toyota to provide the remedy,” he said.
So far both Ford and Chrysler have resisted the temptation to introduce a similar incentive scheme to attract Toyota customers, but neither has completely shut the door on the idea.
(with Automotive News)
Wow, that is very aggresive marketing.
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I would never buy a GM model or a Toyota model anyway.
They have filtered over to europe so its only a matter of time before they come over to Australia and all their other markets.
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Really?? NRMA will pay Suncorp customers to change over, Toyota has offered incentives to get people to trade Falcodores in on Aurions, Audi have done so with Mercedes clients… It goes on all the time! It is only news because they are doing it at a time when Toyota are suffering a lot of bad press.
This is also known as opportunism or making hay while the sun shines…
Spot on and very wise of GM to capitalise on Toyota’s woes. If it had happened the other way around toyota would jump on it too.
If Toyota gave discounts every time GM had a recall they would be handing cars out for free! You cant blame GM for trying but kicking one goal against hundreds is hardly a win.
just exactly which part of the Trade Practices Act does that contravene? sounds like great competition, ACCC will be loving this.
There is nothing at all wrong with this practice. In effect it is the same as offering a better deal than the dealer dowm the road. The only difference is that it is apparently directed to a particular group of owners. I bet is a Ford or Chrysler (or Merc or BMW)customer asked for the same deal, they would have a pretty good chance of getting it.
Insomniac, maybe a glass of warm milk and a little more sleep is required.
Yeah the only real problem that this sort of advertising can create is the perception that “Gee those Toyota’s must be good, I was going to go straight to my Buick / Cadillac / Chevy dealer but now I muat just go down to the Toyota / Lexus Dealer and check them out!!”
What Lexus driver in his right mind would ever consider a Commodore? That is a laugh, I can understand them targeting Toyota buyers but a Lexus come off it. I meann seriously the Commodore could only dream of Lexus quality.
Mate, you need to read more than the headline before you attempt something remotely close to an intelligent comment.
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Ever heard of Cadillac?
Hmmm, oh the choice!!! Do i buy a dull Daewoo, or an even duller Toyota? Perhaps an Opel Astra would be nice. hint hint hint GM
I checked Buick’s website today and would well be tempted if I was a statesider looking to trade out of a Lexus. The car in the above photo is a re-grilled Insignia.
Thats pretty rude/low advertising, but then again there aint no friends in business.
They may have egg on their face later on though as Toyota surely wont let GM get away with any of their slips later down the track.
Im waiting for chapter 2 probably 12 months down the track whem Toyota get their square up…..should be entertaining
At last an informative and mature comment………….