Brian Benstock - Top U.S. Dealers Bail Out Cash For Clunkers Program: www.AutoStimulusPlan.com

PRNewswire via COMTEX
NEW YORK, Aug 10, 2009

Some of the leading U.S. Automotive Retailers launched a privately funded stimulus program to provide up to $4500 in incentives for consumers who were left behind by the government funded stimulus plan. Due to the rules of the government's program, over 90% of consumers are not eligible and consumers are not happy about it.

As a result, some of the largest retailers in the country recently launched the www.AutoStimulusPlan.com, a Stimulus Plan that is more inclusive to include all vehicles older than 2007 regardless of their current mpg. The dealer funded stimulus plan also compensates for the gaps that don't allow consumers to purchase pre-owned vehicles or choose a short term lease. A lot of customers can't afford to buy new vehicles, but the government's program does not work with used vehicles. As a result, last months used car volume was down by approximately 20 percent according to www.CashForClunkersInformation.org.

The government's rules have hurt used vehicle sales and have left retailers' inventories lopsided by eating up most of the new vehicles that qualify while leaving a surplus of other vehicles that don't. This new stimulus comes right on time because many dealers have run out of vehicles that qualify," said Brian Benstock from Paragon Auto Group, one of the participating dealers in New York City.

The clunkers have to be destroyed so we are sourcing less pre-owned vehicles, said Benstock. This has forced us to buy more used cars at auctions for higher prices. We would prefer to give consumers 20 percent more for their trades than paying the auctions more. The dealer-funded Auto Stimulus Plan includes used vehicles and allows dealers to resell the trade ins. The used vehicle component of the new stimulus plan has helped us become the #1 certified pre-owned Honda and Acura dealer in the world. So far, this is our best used vehicle month ever, said Benstock.

"Letting consumers buy a used vehicle or lease a new vehicle makes it affordable for a lot of people who could not participate otherwise," said Scott Gruwell from Courtesy Auto Group in California and Arizona, one of GM's largest dealers and a participating dealer.

The Automotive Stimulus Plan gives consumers up to $4500 in incentives towards the purchase or lease of a new or used vehicle with a minimum of 2mpg of improved fuel economy. The program has fewer rules, easier paperwork and no minimum MPG requirements.

"Now we can help consumers who qualify for the government program and those that don't," said Rick Case, owner of Rick Case Automotive Group in Florida, Georgia and Ohio. "Consumers love it because the stimulus makes the payments very low and the gas and repair savings are very high." The Automotive Stimulus Plan is a private sector program funded by retailers to provide incentives to consumers that will help the economy and the environment at the same time. To qualify for an incentive a consumer must select a new or pre-owned vehicle with a 2MPG improvement over their current vehicle, which is the same requirement the government program has for SUV's, but it applies to all vehicles under the dealers plan.

"The mpg requirements are lower because our primary goal is to help consumers that don't qualify for the government's program and to stimulate the economy through improved sales, jobs and spending," said Gruwell. "As a result, the environmental benefits may not be as big as the government program but it will help more customers get into more fuel efficient vehicles." If a consumer does not have a trade, they can participate through additional incentives that participating dealers are offering, added Case.

"In addition to the stimulus we are giving up to $4500 of incentives regardless of the vehicles eligibility. Consumers can learn more about the program and begin connecting with participating retailers by visiting: www.AutoStimulusPlan.com.

"We are very happy the $2billion dollars of additional funding but we expect it to go fast," said Vince Sheehy from Sheehy Automotive Group in Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland and Baltimore, one of the participating dealers. The plan is a great example of a successful partnership between the public and private sectors to help the economy get back on track." Automotive Stimulus Program Requirements: 1. Current vehicle is a 2006 or older 2. Current vehicle is operable 3. Current vehicle has been owned for a minimum of 6 months 4. Current vehicle has been registered for a minimum of 6 months 5. The replacement vehicle has to be more fuel efficient by a minimum of 2mpg Incentives vary based on the consumer's current vehicle and desired vehicle (visit www.AutoStimulusPlan.com for details). Incentives vary in some states due to state laws that regulate to automotive advertising and promotion. The Auto Stimulus Plan will end on November 1st and will continue if the government's program expires before that date.

"We don't mind giving consumers these extraordinary incentives because our goal is to take care of them so well that they will come back for service and buy all their future vehicles from our dealership," said John Malishenko, Director of Operations for the Germain Automotive Group who owns dealerships in Ohio, Arizona, Florida and Arkansas.

The organization informs consumers that they should be patient if they cannot get through to the website, www.AutoStimulusPlan.com, on their first try. During the program's launch there was an overwhelming level of traffic resulting in periods of interruption. Consumers are advised to visit at a later time if the site is not functioning properly.

About www.AutoStimulusPlan.com Www.AutoStimulusPlan.com is funded and promoted by some of the largest automotive retailers in the country. Participating dealers are domestic and import licensed new car dealers who have agreed to provide incentives for consumers to get a newer more fuel efficient vehicle. Www.AutoStimulusPlan.com website and communication campaign was built by Level 5, an automotive marketing and consulting firm that specializes in creating and implementing integrated programs for Manufacturers, Associations and Retailers. This stimulus plan is a private program and is not affiliated with the government program. For more information about the governments program visit www.Cars.gov.

SOURCE: AutoStimulusPlan.com URL: http://www.autostimulusplan.com