Chrysler, Ford, GM Offer Incentive Plans

November 17, 2005; The AP reported that DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group was the last of the Big Three U.S. automakers to announce a new incentive program on Thursday. All three programs are scheduled to end Jan. 3. Here is a summary of each program.

General Motors Corp.

Program name: "Red Tag Event"

Vehicles included: Most Buick, Chevrolet, GMC and Pontiac vehicles from the 2005 and 2006 model years. Cadillac, Saturn, Saab and HUMMER aren't included but are running separate specials.

Program details: GM is posting a maximum price for each vehicle on red tags at dealerships.

Web site: http://www.gm.com

Ford Motor Co.

Program name: "Keep It Simple Plan"

Vehicles included: Most Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles from the 2005 and 2006 model years. Ford's new trio of sedans -- the Ford Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr and Mercury Milan -- and the Ford Mustang and Ford GT coupes aren't included.

Program details: Ford is posting a maximum price for each vehicle on window stickers at dealerships.

Web site: http://www.ford.com

DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group

Program name: "Miles of Freedom"

Vehicles included: Most Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles from the 2005 and 2006 model years. The Dodge Viper, Chrysler 300, Dodge Magnum, Dodge Charger, Dodge Sprinter and SRT8 aren't included.

Program details: Chrysler will give customers a debit card for $2,400, the estimated cost of two years of free gas. It will also offer two years of free scheduled maintenance and increase the warranty on mechanical parts from three years/36,000 miles to five years/60,000 miles.

Web site: http://www.daimlerchrysler.com

Sources: GM, Ford and Chrysler