Rebates and incentives

Ford says it boosted incentives in May after April cut

1:09 pm U.S. ET | May 30, 2012
Ford said it raised incentives this month to boost U.S. sales after reducing them about $300 a vehicle in April. “We pulled back perhaps a little too much in the month of April, which is why we had a bit of a dip,” Erich Merkle, Ford’s sales analyst, said today in a briefing with reporters. Ford boosted its incentives to be inline with the industry, which remains “very disciplined” in its use of discounts, Merkle said.... Read More »

 

KEITH CRAIN

Bad habits are surfacing again

12:01 am U.S. ET | May 28, 2012
I guess it was wishful thinking. Everyone figured that after the financial crisis, no one would fall back into the same traps that were prevalent before the bottom fell out of the car business. But, whatever the reason, it didn't take long for all those bad habits to surface again Keith Crain is editor-in-chief of Automotive News.... Read More »

 

EDITORIAL

Stair-steps wreak havoc

12:01 am U.S. ET | May 28, 2012
Stair-step incentives, which pay dealers escalating bonuses as various sales targets are hit, wreak havoc in local retail markets and disrupt dealership business models.... Read More »

 

Smaller brands embrace stair-step incentives

12:01 am U.S. ET | May 28, 2012
Stair-step incentives aren't just for the big boys. Volkswagen, Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Kia are among the smaller import brands dangling carrots of cash in front of their dealers, too. Indeed, for some smaller brands, stair-step programs -- which pay dealers escalating bonuses as sales targets are hit -- have been around for years.... Read More »

 

Chrysler promotion delays 1st payment for 3 months

2:33 pm U.S. ET | May 22, 2012
Chrysler Group launched a sales promotion today that waives payments for 90 days on new 2012 vehicles. The promotion, which starts today and runs through May, is applicable to any Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram or Fiat model financed with Ally Financial or Chase Auto Finance.... Read More »

 

Stair-step incentives are back

12:01 am U.S. ET | May 21, 2012
Several automakers have rolled out incentive programs that pay dealers escalating bonuses as sales targets are hit in a bid to wrest back market share or boost key models. So-called stair-step programs are returning after being scaled way back over the past year, dealers say.... Read More »