General Motors' new regional incentive program for 2000 cars and trucks really is not new, and it just barely is regional.
The idea was to offer consumer rebates that vary according to the needs of GM's five U.S. sales regions. A car or truck that is a slow seller in a specific area would get extra help.
It hasn't worked out that way.
In the program that expires April 3, rebates on all but two models are exactly the same in every region and in every state.
The exceptions are the Chevrolet Blazer two-door and its sibling, the GMC Jimmy two-door.
Blazer two-door buyers get a $500 giveback in the Southeast and South Central regions and nothing elsewhere. The Jimmy two-door brings $500 in the South Central area only.
The Blazer and Jimmy four-doors have a $1,500 rebate everywhere.
GM's winter rebate collection covers Buick, Chevrolet, GMC, Oldsmobile and Pontiac cars and light trucks. The payments are a bit higher than in the fall.
Topping the list is $2,000 on the Buick Park Avenue Ultra sedan and the Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunfire convertibles.
On other cars and light trucks, the range is $500 to $1,500.
Cut-rate financing is available instead of rebates.
Generally, the rates are 2.9 or 3.9 percent, although some models are listed at 0 percent or 0.9 percent.
Regional variations are more apparent on the finance side. The Western region has more 0 percenters than the other areas.
In an effort to clean out inventories of 1999 Amigo sport-utilities, Isuzu is paying a customer rebate of $3,000.
The program expires Feb. 29.
