Chrysler's money-back guarantee incentive to stay for a while.

(Reuters) Chrysler Group LLC said today it will offer consumers a 60-day, money-back guarantee on new vehicles and also make the first two months of payments for buyers, as it tries to shore up sales amid lackluster consumer confidence.

The offer expands on Chrysler's Minivan Pledge, a 60-day money back guarantee on the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan. Chrysler launched the Minivan Pledge in February and it expired July 6. But the two minivans are included in the new program, which covers most Chrysler vehicles.

Chrysler said consumers will be allowed to return a new vehicle within 60 days if they are not happy with the purchase and the company will pay up to $500 per month for the first two months.

In addition, Chrysler will offer interest-free loans for up to sixty months on most 2010 Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles when financed through GMAC Financial Services for the month of July.

The only vehicles not included in the money-back offer are the Dodge Viper and Jeep Wrangler.

"We build great vehicles for just about any lifestyle and with this pledge, consumers will have the confidence to know they made the right purchase or they can return the vehicle no questions asked," Chrysler U.S. sales chief Fred Diaz said in a statement.

Chrysler spokesman Ralph Kisiel said only eight customers returned minivans during the Minivan Pledge, which launched Feb. 11.

The new program has conditions similar to those of the minivan program:

• Customers who return their vehicles will be charged 40 cents for each mile driven, and they must drive it for at least 30 days before they exercise the option, a Chrysler spokesperson said. That amount is up from 30 cents under the Minivan Pledge.
• At the time of the purchase, dealers will present customers with a one-page statement explaining the price they'll be paid if they choose to return the minivan. Customers will not get their trade-in vehicle back.
• Customers who had negative equity on their trade-in vehicles will have that amount deducted from the money Chrysler refunds to them. So if a person owed $2,000 more on their trade-in vehicle than that vehicle was worth, the $2,000 will be deducted.
• The offer will be void if there is more than $200 worth of damage to the vehicle.

Chrysler's U.S. sales rose nearly 12 percent in the first six months of this year but lagged the 16.7 percent gain in overall industry sales over the same period.

Src: [autonews]