leasing

GM prices Chevy Spark EV below $20,000 after tax credits

12:01 am U.S. ET | May 23, 2013
GM will price its new Chevrolet Spark electric vehicle at $27,495, including destination charges and before federal tax credits, placing it among the cheapest EVs on the market.... Read More »

 

DIANA T. KURYLKO

Can battery rental reduce consumer jitters with EVs? Smart thinks so

2:02 pm U.S. ET | May 14, 2013
Consumers have a lot of gripes about the battery life in high-tech products. Batteries seem to conk out way before the products do. Small wonder there's even more anxiety about electric vehicle batteries.... Read More »

 

FINANCE & INSURANCE Q&A: TOM DUNDON

Chrysler Group seeks an edge with Chrysler Capital

12:01 am U.S. ET | May 13, 2013
Chrysler Capital, the private-label arrangement between Santander Consumer USA and Chrysler Group, began operating in the United States May 1 as the preferred lender for Chrysler Group. Chrysler Capital will offer prime and subprime retail loans and leasing through Chrysler dealers, as well as floorplanning and construction loans to dealers.... Read More »

 

Tesla hikes guaranteed residual value on Model S

4:16 pm U.S. ET | May 3, 2013
Tesla increased the guaranteed residual value of its electric Model S sedan to 50 percent after its lease-to-own period of three years. The car's guaranteed residual value had been tied to that of the Mercedes-Benz S class, which, at 43 percent after 36 months, is relatively low compared with the overall luxury segment.... Read More »

 

JAMIE LaREAU

Strange question? Not really

12:01 am U.S. ET | April 10, 2013
Should an F&I officer or a salesperson explain the risks of a big down payment to a lease customer?... Read More »

 

GM targets higher resale values to boost profits, margins

12:19 am U.S. ET | March 30, 2013
GM, seeking to boost its profit margins, says it can save as much as $200 million annually by improving resale values of its vehicles and further narrowing the gap with competitors who don't have to spend as much to offer lease deals.... Read More »

 

JAMIE LaREAU

Sell a service contract on a lease? It's all in the pitch

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 27, 2013
For dealers, a lease deal usually means a bum deal on the back end. The sale of a high-profit product such as an extended-service contract is typically off the table.... Read More »

 

Chrysler expects leasing to climb

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
Chrysler Group expects dealers nearly to double the number of new vehicles they lease after Chrysler Capital, the group's new financial joint venture with Banco Santander SA, launches May 1.... Read More »

 

Cheap, easy credit gives lift to leases

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
Encouraged by cheap and easily available credit, several mass market brands will get more aggressive with leasing this year to boost sales and customer loyalty.... Read More »

 

JIM HENRY

Time to brace for the luxury rush

12:01 am U.S. ET | Nov. 14, 2012
For the past 10 years or so, December has become the biggest sales month of the year for luxury brands. But it seems as if those brands' year-end sales pushes start earlier every year.... Read More »

 

BMW lets U.S. lessees skip payments in drive to pass Mercedes

3:10 pm U.S. ET | Oct. 12, 2012
BMW AG, falling behind Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz in U.S. luxury auto sales, is introducing an incentive program through the end of this month that lets lease owners skip payments if they buy a new vehicle.... Read More »

 

LINDSAY CHAPPELL

A little too much sales contact?

6:28 pm U.S. ET | Oct. 11, 2012
The lease on one of my family cars is coming to an end. In December I’ll need to hand over the keys after 36 months. I’ve really enjoyed the car more than I expected.... Read More »

 

GREEN CARS

Daimler starts output of electric Smart, beating BMW into EV niche

June 12, 2012 08:49 CET
Daimler started sales and production of its first mass-market electric car today, beating rival BMW with the introduction of an emission-free model. Deliveries of the battery-powered ForTwo will start later this year. Munich-based BMW plans to introduce the full-electric i3 next year.... Read More »