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May 10, 2008

Chrysler gas program sparks questions, answered here

Chrysler_GasCards.jpgChrysler broke the news late Monday on "Let's Refuel America", and the $2.99 per gallon price protection program seemed to have touched a national nerve.

The program has been featured in hundreds, if not thousands, of news stories, TV shows and radio broadcasts - the kind of coverage we usually only see during auto shows.

Here are Chrysler's answers to the top ten questions about the new program:

Q: How do you figure out the gallons on the card?

A: Take average MPG of any vehicle, divide into 12,000 miles and you get an annual allocation of gallons of fuel, for each of three years. For Example: Dodge Caliber, 24 MPG average. The customer’s card is allocated 500 gallons of unleaded fuel for each of three years. Total value is 1,500 gallons of gas x (price of gas - $2.99).

Q: Heavy Duty Ram trucks do not have a MPG on the sticker Price?

A: We are using 15 MPG for all Ram’s HD and LD. That equals 800 gallons of fuel per year at $2.99. That’s a lot of diesel dollars.

Q: How do I get charged? What about the receipt I get at the station?

A: While the gas price on the pump and on the customers' reciept at the time of the transaction will show the actual gas price at that time, the customer credit card account is actually billed only $2.99 a gallon for their gas purchases and Chrysler picks up the difference.

Regardless of the actual dollar figure shown on the reciept and the pump at the time of purchase the customer will only be charged at $2.99 per gallon. The customer’s Let’s Refuel America card must be connected to an active Visa or MasterCard credit card account.

Q: How do you keep the card from being used on other vehicles?

A: The card can be used for any vehicle as long as the fuel purchased is the fuel specified for the purchased vehicle.

Q: Are there specific filling stations you have to go to in order to get the $2.99/gallon price?

A: It is good at 97% of stations across the country.

Q: Is diesel fuel also $2.99 a gallon?

A: The purchased vehicle has a recommended fuel: Unleaded 87, E85 or Diesel. The card can only be used for that specific kind of fuel, and yes the cost will be $2.99 for diesel. If you use a card for purchase of a different kind of fuel than is specified for the purchased vehicle, there are additional charges.

Q: Is it only Trucks and SUVs?

A: No it is for the full line, starting with Jeep Compass, Jeep Patriot and Dodge Caliber and minivans up to Dodge Ram pickup trucks. In fact in terms of incremental value compared to previous incentives, the greatest increase in value is with our smallest, most fuel efficient vehicles. Vehicles excluded include Viper, Challenger, all SRT models, Dodge Sprinter, Jeep Wrangler and Ram Chassis Cab.

Q: What happens if I sell my car?

A: While the card is linked specifically to the purchase of an specific vehicle, the card then can be used by the customer for any vehicle and is not effected by the status of the original vehicle.

Q: I understand this offer is in lieu of other incentives. Explain?

A: Customer has a choice of three basic options: Cashback incentive; lowered APR financing; or the Gas Program. On certain vehicles, like the Dodge Ram, the Gas Program option includes additional bonus cash.

For example: Dodge Grand Caravan customers have a choice of $2,500 cash incentive; 0% financing for qualified buyers; or the three year gas program including $500 cash. Caravan gets 19 MPG for a three year total of 1,895 gallons of fuel at $2.99.

Posted by Frank at May 10, 2008 12:22 PM | Filed under 5th Wheel | Auto Marketing | Auto News | Chrysler | Dodge | Finance | Jeep

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