AUBURN HILLS, Michigan — Chrysler late Friday rolled out an incentives program aimed at disgruntled Toyota owners, following General Motors and Ford in an unabashed play for Toyota's once-loyal customers.
The domestic automakers are hoping to steal away customers from Toyota as it grapples with a major safety and public-relations nightmare linked to its massive recall of vehicles with faulty accelerator pedals.
Chrysler is offering current Toyota Tundra, Tacoma and Sienna owners an additional $1,000 trade-in bonus cash with purchase or lease of any new Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge car or Ram truck, it said in a statement. The program runs through March 1.
It also announced $1,000 bonus cash for all Toyota returning lessees who purchase or lease a new Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge car or Ram truck.
The Detroit automaker said the new incentives "will give consumers a level playing field when shopping our products against the competition."
Ford and GM rolled out incentives programs for Toyota customers earlier last week.
Inside Line says: It's pile-on time as Chrysler joins its fellow domestic automakers in a blatant bid for unhappy Toyota customers. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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tbone85 says:
11:35 AM, 02/03/2010
"wcoy14 says:
chrome58, actually Hyundai/Kia have denounced what GM and Ford are doing and Inside Line posted info about that earlier today, you have false imformation"
Sorry, but despite their earlier statement, I received an email over the weekend from Hyundai touting their high quality and focussing on FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt). It's business in a saturated market. Toyota and Honda did the same thing when the domestics had a quality problem. I have no issue with Hyndai, Ford, or whoever taking advantage of a fluctuation in the market.
steeleydan2000 says:
08:35 AM, 02/02/2010
If we really follow this story we will find that the part was manufactured to Toyotas specification. And therefore It was Toyotas engineers job to make sure the part functioned saftly and properly. I know this from 25 years working at a Jeep plant in Toledo Ohio. Oh and by the way My plant hs been awarded well i'll let you read it for yourself. "In an unprecedented, near-sweep reminiscent of a blockbuster movie at the Academy Awards, Toledo-area auto workers yesterday won three of four much-coveted annual awards for productivity from a highly respected industry observer.
For the first time, three Toledo-area automotive plants were labeled best in North America, beating out all Detroit Three, Japanese, and European rivals for how long it takes to make their products, according to the 2008 Harbour Report." (Toledo Blade)My plant Toledo Jeep has this award 3 years running. This same award went to an engine plant in Dundee Michigan. And while I do not work there Toledo has another plant that make trasmissions owned by General Motors that is top in it's field also.
blh1181 says:
06:12 AM, 02/02/2010
well said jlaszlo
and who is the guy that thinks it's America's fault? They extended the recall to europe and even china you jap bastard. This has been going on since 04 with all of toyota's vehicles and shady toyota has been brushing it under the rug.
I choose Chrysler. Ram, Viper, Wrangler, 300, the 2011 Grand Cherokee! Challenger, Charger, Cummins Diesel in the Heavy Duty, and my Jeep Patriot that is an automatic 4x4 that gets 27mpg on the highway.
jlaszlo says:
07:42 PM, 02/01/2010
So if a cornerback gets injured and is out of the game, should the quarterback throw to the other side of the field so he's not picking on the poor backup? $%#! no! It's smart coaching and smart business.
xoquixxoqafxo says:
06:46 PM, 02/01/2010
desparate much?
gmhl10 says:
06:28 PM, 02/01/2010
Hey, it's a dog-eat-dog world. I don't think what Chrysler is doing is morally wrong. Toyota screwed up and it's just one of the consequences. In MMA fights, if the other fighter misses a kick and trips, you don't see the other fighter letting him back up. He's gonna be all over that opportunity.
bodyblue says:
04:11 PM, 02/01/2010
"I have known that American workers have no work ethic and that shows in the product that they manufacture"
Do you always talk about things you dont know about? Will you ever ride in a Boeing again or will you give up flying to your stupidity convention?
bfo says:
02:42 PM, 02/01/2010
It is amazing that no one is blaming the company that makes the brake parts. I have followed this news and everyone is blaming Toyota. As a foreign company, Toyota will still strive for the best. The faulty brakes were manufactured by an American company. I have known that American workers have no work ethic and that shows in the product that they manufacture. Toyota wants to do business here in the states and employs Americans for that. I have made up my mind that i may never buy an American manufactured car again if this foolish witch hurts turns out bad for Toyota. May be Toyota and Honda should just pack up and move the manufacture of their product to outside the states and see which country will suffer more.
atenza94546 says:
01:22 PM, 02/01/2010
Which one do you preferred ???
Stuck Gas Padel with Brakes ???
Or no Brakes at all ???
For Macho Americans Brakes are not nescessary needed !!!!
e90_m3 says:
01:15 PM, 02/01/2010
I'm sure the quality Italian engineering of Fiat-Chrysler will never fail us. Legions of happy Fiat and Alfa Romeo owners will attest to their flawless reliability. FIAT--Foremost In Advanced Technology.