HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. — GrooveCar has joined the Invest in America program that is offering special pricing and rates on GM and Chrysler automobiles.
GrooveCar has been added to bring marketing punch to the program, and to assist credit union members with details on the car discount offer when they need it.
GrooveCar believes the partnership helps credit union members better understand how Invest in America works. "Members can get a little confused about what they are entitled to through the program," said GrooveCar President David Jacobson. "Especially with all the offers the car manufacturers have out. What is my discount? Do I have to finance with the credit union? Members have questions."
The automotive resource is promoting Invest in America on its website CU members use to locate new and used cars, as well as local dealers. But GrooveCar expects to help most members with questions through its national call center.
Jacobson said GrooveCar has been aware of members heading to the dealership to take advantage of Invest in America only to leave with 0% or low-rate manufacturer financing. "Members need to be educated. You can't just send them arbitrarily to dealers," Jacobson said. "They are going direct to the business where they need it to go. Members should know that with the rebates manufacturers are giving as standard to customers, the credit union financing, and the Invest in America incentive they'll usually get a better deal than going with the low carmaker financing."
GrooveCar's call center was recently expanded and its website has been redesigned to support credit unions nationwide, so Jacobson feels the timing of the partnership is good. GrooveCar's advertising addresses the potential for member confusion saying: "It's no surprise that many members are confused by exactly what the Invest In America initiative entitles them to."
Michigan Credit Union League President David Adams said the Invest in America program should be "simple from the consumer standpoint. The GM program is basically their supplier pricing, so instantly the credit union member is at a no-haggling price point. In the case of the Chrysler program it is $1,000 off the best negotiated price you can get, including all of the other discounts, as long as you get your financing at the credit union. Both are really good deals for the member."
With 28,000 cars sold through the program and more than 1,000 CUs participating since Invest in America debuted in December, Adams is confident in the offer's continuing appeal and expects interest to grow. "We just have to get consumer awareness up, and we expect that will happen through the GrooveCar agreement, and through partnerships like we have with CUDL," he said.
The MCUL has also added AAA Michigan to the program. AAA will give Invest in America participants a free upgraded membership, including 100 miles of free towing and coverage for motorcycles and RVs.
Michigan credit unions are doing their part to pump up the program, releasing TV and radio spots that carry the Invest in America theme. The ads have been running since March 9, and CUs participating in Invest in America can feature the ads in their respective markets.
The two TV ads and two radio spots focus on helping consumers buy from GM and Chrysler through Invest in America while directing consumers to www.lovemycreditunion.org.
Invest in America has a built-in advertising pool that stands at $1 million for participating credit unions. The ad pool grows as more credit unions actively promote the program.
