Top U.S. Dealers Create Auto Stimulus Plan to Help Consumers Left Behind By Government's...

Top U.S. Dealers Create Auto Stimulus Plan to Help Consumers Left Behind By
Government's Cash for Clunkers Program: www.AutoStimulusPlan.com

NEW YORK, Aug. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Some of the largest automotive retailers in
the country created a privately funded stimulus program to provide additional
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 chose 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 15(th), 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 4(th).

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 required down payment if the
consumer qualifies. "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 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 deduct 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. Current vehicle has been insured for a minimum of 6 months
6. The replacement vehicle has to be more fuel efficient
7. Incentives vary based on current vehicle and desired vehicle (visit
www.AutoStimulusPlan.com for details)

8. Incentives vary by State, Make and Model. Incentives may vary in some
states due to state laws that regulate to automotive advertising and
promotion.

The Auto Stimulus Plan will end on November 1(st) and will continue if the
government's 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 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 agree to provide additional
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.

SOURCE www.AutoStimulusPlan.com

Erin Miller of HL Group, +1-212-529-5533 ext. 257, emiller@hlgrp.com