Would You Like Fuel With That?
Vehicle sales have been stalling as the economy is trying to sort itself out and potential consumers are trying to hang on to their vehicles as long as possible. To combat this, dealerships and manufacturers have been getting creative in attempting to lure buyers to their shops.
In the latest in a string of various incentives Chrysler Corporation announced on Wednesday that it will be limiting the amount its customers will be paying for gasoline when they purchase selected new models.
The idea of incentives is not a new one to the automotive industry. First it was the $0 down 0% interest offers, followed by the employee discount offers. Some dealerships even offered “buy a new car, get a used car free” or Dell desktop computers with the purchase of a new vehicle. But with the price of gasoline increasing and with no signs of stopping, Chrysler thinks they’ve got the next big one.
“It’s something that’s unprecedented in the car business,” said Craig Stickler, general manager of Maxwell Taylor Chrysler. The news “was released night before last and we received probably between, in the neighborhood of 20 to 25 calls yesterday and the phones have been ringing off the hook,” said Stickler.
The plan is to offer purchasers of specific models a special credit card that allows them to purchase gasoline for $2.99 a gallon for regular or diesel fuel for a period of three years. If gas prices raise above the $2.99 per gallon mark during that time period, Chrysler will pay the difference.
Stickler predicts that this is a move that other manufacturers will follow, and Chrysler is already hinting that it will extend the offer beyond the June 2 deadline. Customers also seem to be interested. “I definitely would look into that. I tell you because you feel it at the pump now. You really do,” said Darwin Tanksley, one man feeling the fuel crunch.
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