General Motors has announced it offer will their customers a money-back guarantee, that if they don't like their new Chevrolet, GMAC, Buick or Cadillac -- they will have 60 days to bring back it for a full refund.
The new guarantee begins next week with the hopes of winning back customers leery of GM after it filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year. The company's promotion is called "May the Best Car Win." It starts Monday and lasts through November 30.
Returned vehicles must not be driven more than 4,000 miles and drivers must be current on their payments.
The full refund offer will be pitched in a series of television commercials featuring new GM Chairman Edward Whitacre Jr. In the first series of ads, he tells viewers that he too had doubts about the company when he joined this summer. Now, he likes the cars he's seen, and consumers should too. If they don't, they can have their money back.
The offer applies to the Detroit company's four remaining brands: Chevrolet, GMC, Buick and Cadillac. The Pontiac brand, which GM is phasing out, is not eligible. Leased vehicles are also ineligible.
GM must show that its cars and trucks are better than competitors' offerings, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz told reporters on a conference call Thursday.
He said there is a "monumental chasm" between the public's perception of GM's vehicles and the autos in its current lineup. The campaign, which has been planned for months, aims to change that.
GM said it plans to continue its advertising campaign through 2010. The company currently spends about $2 billion a year on advertising.