Tag Archives: General Motors

Nissan Offers Employee Discount to Hurricane Sandy Victims

Hurricane Sandy might have come and gone, but she left behind a mess of destroyed homes and vehicles throughout New York and New Jersey. Many car owners are unable to salvage their flooded cars and have to rely on an already overburdened public transit system. Some car manufacturers and dealerships, however, are offering special discounts to victims of Hurricane Sandy.

Nissan announced last week that employee pricing would be available for businesses and individuals whose cars were damaged or destroyed during Hurricane Sandy. Consumers can take advantage of this offer through January 2, 2013, and if they have questions about qualifications and details of the offer, Nissan has set up this website so customers can get a VPP claim ID to take to their local dealership.

The employee discount is as follows:

  1. $750 under invoice on Nissan Versa, Sentra, cube, and Nissan LEAF
  2. $1,000 under invoice on Nissan Altima, Altima Coupe, Rogue, Xterra, Frontier, and Juke
  3. $1,000 under invoice on Nissan NV Standard Roof, High Roof, and Passenger Van
  4. $1,250 under invoice on New Infiniti models
  5. $1,500 under invoice on Nissan 370Z Coupe and Roadstar, Maxima, Pathfinder, Titan, Armada, Quest, Murano, and Murano CrossCabriolet

Other car manufacturers including BMW, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, and Mercedes-Benz have pledged donations to the American Red Cross, and Fisker has opened its Wilmington, Delaware factory for housing utility trucks and repair crews who are assisting with relief efforts.

We want to hear from our readers who were affected by Hurricane Sandy. Will you take advantage of Nissan’s offer, and do you think these car manufacturers are doing enough? Leave a comment below, and let us know what you think!

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Toyota, Chevrolet Sonic Earn High Marks in Brand Loyalty

When shopping for a new car, I want to know which brands and models inspire brand loyalty. I want to know which drivers are going back to their current brand or model to look for their next car. Buying a car is a commitment, and brand loyalty surveys are the best way to gauge which drivers have buyer’s regret and which drivers really love their car.

A recent report on brand loyalty from Experian Automotive had some fascinating results. The report looked at which vehicles had returning customers when they went to buy their next car. The top 5 vehicle brands and top 10 vehicle models are as follows:

Top 5 Brands

  1. Toyota:  47.3 percent return rate
  2. General Motors:  46.2 percent
  3. Ford:  46 percent
  4. Hyundai:  45.3 percent
  5. Honda:  43.1 percent

Top 10 Models

  1. Chevrolet Sonic:  60.3 percent
  2. Ford Fusion:  59.9 percent
  3. Ford Flex:  56 percent
  4. Ford Edge:  55.1 percent
  5. Ford Five Hundred:  53.1 percent
  6. Toyota Prius:  51.8 percent
  7. Chevrolet Cruze:  51.7 percent
  8. Kia Forte:  51.6 percent
  9. Ford Escape:  51.4 percent
  10. Ford Fiesta:  51.2 percent

Toyota took the top spot for car brands even though it only had one vehicle in the top 10 models. Ford dominated the models list with the Fusion, Flex, Edge, Five Hundred, Escape, and Fiesta, more than half the list. Most surprising, though, was that the new kid on the block, the Chevrolet Sonic, came in first with model loyalty. The Chevrolet Sonic, formerly known as the Chevrolet Aveo, only premiered in the United States a year ago. The fact that it is already commanding such brand loyalty is really interesting and definitely something to watch in the coming years.

Readers, we want to hear from you! Did your favorite car make the top ten? When you look for a new car, what car makes and models stand out to you or draw you back again? Leave a comment below, and tell us what you think!

Are you looking to get into a new or used car? Approved Loan Store can help! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we want to get you into a car you want at terms you can afford! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and get the latest auto news and buying tips by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

GM Hires 10,000 Computer Professionals to Develop Software, New Technology

American automakers are riding high in 2012 with sales stronger than ever, especially for new models like the Chevrolet Spark. While this is great news, there was even better news coming out of GM that will ensure a bright future for American automakers.

For years, many American automakers have paid outside companies for the right to use software and other new technology in their vehicles. They have relied on others to dictate the future of automobiles instead of doing it themselves. Ultimately, they have ended up paying out the nose for technology they could have (and should have) developed with their own resources. It has been a waste of money and a waste of great American talent.

GM has realized that to remain competitive, they need to develop new information technology and quickly. Otherwise, they will get left behind and wind up exactly where they were only a few years ago. In a bold pro-active move, GM has announced they will be hiring 10,000 new computer professionals. These hires will work at GM’s new Information Technology Innovation Center in Austin, Texas, GM’s computer center in Warren, Michigan, and two other sites that are expected to be announced soon.

GM’s Chief Information Officer Randy Mott had high hopes for these new hires and their work, stating, “We’re currently seeking the next generation of game-changers to help us usher in a new age of automotive innovation.” Many have called the move risky and wonder if it will pay off for GM. Paying for 10,000 new computer professionals is quite a hefty bill, but considering 2012’s strong auto sales and Japan’s return after the tsunami, the time is now or never. GM will have to put in the money now and take advantage of the opportunity available to them or lose their ability to compete, again.

Are you looking to get in a new or used vehicle today? Approved Loan Store can help! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we want to get you in the car you want at terms you can afford! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and get the latest news and auto buying tips by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!