General Motors Corp. Extends 'Employee Discount' Sale Through August Due to Sales Surge

DETROIT July 5, 2005; The AP reported that after sales surged 41 percent last month, General Motors Corp. on Tuesday said it will extend its June discount that allowed customers to buy most GM cars and trucks at the employee rate.

The world's largest auto maker saw sales soar to their highest monthly total in nearly 19 years -- in a large part due to the discount, which helped lure roughly 150,000 new buyers in June, GM said.

The offer, which was scheduled to end today, has been extended through Aug. 1, GM said. The discount does not include the Chevrolet Corvette and Pontiac GTO sports cars or any medium-duty trucks. Last month, customers bought vehicles for an average of $400 to $500 less than they would have paid in May.

"Our dealers, who enthusiastically support this program, told us that it drove a lot of new customers into their showrooms," said Pete Gerosa, North America vice president of field sales, service and parts.

GM sales for the first six months of the year rose 2.7 percent. Its truck sales rose 6.3 percent, and car sales fell 2.3 percent.