Take A Coupon Buy A Car - General Motors Has Employees Give Out Discounts

DETROIT May 15, 2003; Dow Jones reported that General Motors Corp. distributed around 200,000 discount coupons to all of its salaried and hourly employees in an attempt to boost lagging May sales, the company said Thursday.

Employees are encouraged to pass the discount coupons over to friends, family members who normally wouldn't be allowed to use the regular family discount, or "perfect strangers" if they please, said spokeswoman Ryndee Carney.

The value of the coupons varies depending on the type of vehicle bought, Carney said. They can be used in addition to existing discount programs that are available to the general public.

The move was an attempt to help boost lagging May sales. GM said Thursday May sales are lagging April, and so far look like the seasonally adjusted annual rate for industrywide sales may fall in the low 16 million range, including about 300,000 heavy trucks.

Company officials would not predict a sales rate for GM, on the hopes that late-month incentives will help accelerate sales.