Clunker Bill Passes & Dealers Launch www.AutoStimulusPlan.com

New York, NY - August 6, 2009 - The Cash for Clunkers bill “will definately pass in the next 30 minutes,” according www.CashForClunkersInformation.org. A policy maker who was instrumental in creating the historic bill spoke on condition of anonymity . www.CashForClunkersInformation.org is breaking the good news to consumers and to the automotive industry, who has experienced record gains in the last 30 days due to the clunker cash giveaway.

Some of the largest automotive retailers in the country created a privately funded stimulus program to provide up to $4500 in incentives for consumers to make it easier for them to get a newer more fuel efficient vehicle. The dealer funded Automotive Stimulus Plan was designed to complement the government’s program and to compensate for some of the gaps that don’t allow consumers to purchase pre-owned vehicles or choose a short term lease. “The government program has been fantastic for business but some of our customers have been disappointed because the programs rules left them behind,” said Scott Gruwell from Courtesy Chevrolet, one of GM’s largest dealers and one of the retailers participating in the Auto Stimulus Plan. “Letting consumers lease a new vehicle or buy a pre-owned vehicle makes it affordable for a lot of people who could not participate otherwise.”

The stimulus program was slated to start on August 15th, 2009 but participating retailers decided to launch the program this week because of the instability of the governments program. “We have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars to attract consumers to the dealership and we don’t know if the government will have the money to fund the program,” said Brian Benstock from Paragon Auto Group, one of the participating dealers in New York City. “Now we are prepared to help our customers even if the government program runs out of money. Our motto is ‘No Customer Left Behind’.” www.AutoStimulusPlan.com goes live on Tuesday August 4th.

The Automotive Stimulus Plan gives consumers up to $4500 in incentives towards the purchase or lease of a new or pre-owned vehicle. The program promises fewer requirements, easier paperwork and no minimum MPG requirements. “If the governments program gets more funding it will help a lot but there are still consumers who can’t afford it and the Auto Stimulus plan is designed to help them,” said Rick Case, owner of Rick Case Automotive Group in Florida, Georgia and Ohio. “Consumers will pay less a year to drive a newer car because the payments are so low and the gas and repair savings are so 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 that gets 2MPG better mpg than their current vehicle, which is the same requirement the government program has for SUV’s but this applies to all vehicles under the dealers plan. If a consumer does not have a trade, they can participate if they select a vehicle with 2mpg better than the government’s mpg requirement of 17mpg. “The mpg requirements are lower because our primary goal is to help consumers that don’t qualify for the governments program and to stimulate the economy through improved sales, jobs and spending,” said Gruwell. “As a result, the environmental benefits will not be as big as the government program but it will help more customers get into more fuel efficient vehicles.”

“We have customers who measure their vehicles mpg weekly and they get 12mpg but the government’s calculator says they get 19mpg so they don’t qualify. Our program makes it easier for them get into a more fuel efficient vehicle by not having a minimum mpg requirement for their current vehicle,” said Benstock. “Under our stimulus program a customer can get a new Accord for $5 a day which means they can drive a car for practically free when you consider the gas savings,” said Benstock.

The Automotive Stimulus Plan incentives vary by state and the make and model of the vehicle they select. Consumers can learn more about the program and begin connecting with participating retailers by visiting: www.AutoStimulusPlan.com.


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
6. Incentives vary based on current vehicle and desired vehicle (visit www.AutoStimulusPlan.com for details)
7. Incentives vary by State, Make and Model. 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 governments program expires before that date.

Participating dealers are eager to get the stimulus plan started ahead of schedule because of the recent turbulence with the government program. “We intended for our Stimulus Plan to compliment the government’s program but now it may have to take its place when the government funds run out,” said Vince Sheehy from Sheehy Automotive Group in Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland and Baltimore, one of the participating dealers.

“The key to the Auto Stimulus Plan is that it helps us a lot with Used Vehicles. The program helps us source more trade ins and increases Used vehicle sales by allowing consumers to use the stimulus incentives to buy Pre-Owned vehicles,” said John Malishenko, Director of Operations offor 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 this week, as the program is being launched and traffic levels may be high. When the governments program went live they experienced difficulties with high traffic volumes that affected their servers and the AutoStimulusPlan.com website may experience similar issues. 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

Contact Information

Erin Miller

PR Director

HL Group

Contact via E-mail