In response to rising demand, G.M. said it would build 75 percent more vehicles in the first quarter than it did a year earlier, and Ford said it would raise first-quarter production by 58 percent. Both companies had been drastically cutting production since the middle of last year.

While sales figures for the months of July and August were significantly higher, mostly due to the Cash for Clunkers program, November sales were the third highest for 2009.

This article posted by AFP, noted that Chrysler sales in the U.S were down 25 percent compared with a year earlier to 63,560. Sales were down modestly compared with October’s figure of 65,803, and the company said this was a positive sign.

Ford meanwhile said increased sales of passenger cars and newer “crossover” vehicles offset weak demand for trucks and sport utility vehicles.

Ford said it sold 123,167 new vehicles in the month, marginally lower than the 123,222 in November 2008. The figure was down from 136,920 in October.

“We can see now that a modest economic recovery is under way,” Emily Kolinski Morris, Ford’s senior United States economist, said on a conference call Tuesday. “It won’t begin to feel like a recovery until the labor market has begun to improve materially.”

Hyundai was the industry leader last month, as it has been through most of 2009 as consumers look for lower-priced but reliable alternatives to some more popular vehicles. The Environmental Protection Agency released a report Tuesday citing Hyundai topping Honda as the most fuel-efficient vehicle lineup.

As an advertising agency we try to account for everything. Looking over our statistics reports, here are some of the numbers our Cash for Clunkers micro sites saw.

Client A

Site Launched July 23
Active 28 Days
Unique Visitors – 287
Visits – 330
Page Views – 1,231
Registrations – 21

Client B
Site Launched July 6
Active 46 Days
Unique Visitors – 1,426
Visits – 1805
Page Views – 7,878
Registrations – 336

Client C
Site Launched Aug 5
Active 15 Days
Unique Visitors – 29
Visits – 47
Page Views – 205
Registrations – 5

Client D
Site Launched July 13
Active 39 Days
Unique Visitors – 551
Visits – 787
Page Views – 4,115
Registrations – 57

Client E
Site Launched July 27
Active 25 Days
Unique Visitors – 884
Visits – 1,049
Page Views – 3,599
Registrations – 61

As you can see, some sites had better numbers than others. However, looking at the number of active days, the number of visitors and the number of completed online registrations we can estimate that as many as 23% of visitors to Client B, the longest active site, completed a registration form. Client C, with only 15 active days, had a 10% registration rate.

At this point we do not have statistics to compare how many of these applicants made a purchase under the Cash for Clunkers program. However we can say that the micro sites did have a dramatic impact in funneling customers to our clients dealerships.

So how does the Payment Insurance Big 3 stack up?

Chart from Jalopnik.

Now as you can see, Ford offers more payment assistance, larger payments and a bigger maximum payout. But, Hyundai is the manufacturer that truly covers the consumer’s negative equity. But the benefit of covering negative equity is a difficult thing to explain to a consumer.

To be fair to GM, this is only part of their Total Confidence program.

Now let’s look how the manufacturers tried to convey this complicated message in a 30 second ad.

Hyundai Assurance Plus

Click here to view the embedded video.

GM Total Confidence

Click here to view the embedded video.

Ford Advantage Plan

Click here to view the embedded video.

Placed back to back to back the messages look very different. While Hyundai and GM try to relate to the viewer, Ford dives right into their message. Hyundai adopts a plus sign in their ad, GM uses a rally cap and Ford just uses straight figures.

The problem with Ford’s direction is what will the viewer ultimately remember. After a few minutes do you remember the figures from the Ford ad? Do you remember the backwards hat? How about the plus sign?

Hyundai and GM went soft with their sale, Ford took the hard road with theirs. Ultimately time will decide which direction was the best.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse for GM, this story comes out on CNN.

Basically the accountants at GM have serious doubt as to whether GM can survive as a company. These aren’t outside accountants looking in or a talking head specualting, these are the accountants that work directly for GM. In the 480 page document that GM filed with the Securities and Exchange Committee, as part of the bailout agreement, the accountants wrote they have “substantial doubt” about GM’s future.

Sales are down 40% and if that doesn’t change, GM could file for bankruptcy, even with the help of Government money.

Scary just got Scarier. Just reading this makes me want to stay as far away from a GM product as humanly possible. This will not bode well for sales.

So what’s a dealer to do. Put the emphasis on your dealership, not on the manufacturer. Be honest with your customers.

While the manufacturers future is in doubt, you can still count on Dealer Name. We will honor all factory warranties, no matter what happens.

That’s the message that dealers need to put out. Customers are going to worry about their warranties. They’re going to worry about parts and service if GM goes under. So take away their worry by telling them to trust you. Right now, your brand equity can be worth more than GM’s.

Hard times call for old creative it seems. Chrysler has announced plans to bring back Employee Pricing Plus.

You’ll remember that Ford just ran this event during the holidays. And Chrysler ran a similar campaign in 2006.

Dropping 30% in sales from 2007 to 2008 will make you do some crazy things. We’ll see if this jump starts the rest of The Big 3 manufacturers to run Employee Pricing programs as well.

After 70 years, GM has lost its global auto sales crown to Toyota in 2008. This comes after GM won the battle for sales in the U.S. over Toyota. But they did not win the war. The official worldwide sales: Toyota, 8.97 million units and GM, 8.36 million units.

Peter DeLorenzo, founder of the blog AutoExtremist, had to this to say:

It was inevitable, as Toyota has been on a relentless surge since 2000. But is it news? Not so much, as GM has mentally been the No. 2 car company in the world for quite some time now.

In the midst of the economic tumble and massive job layoffs, Hyundai is now offering assurance to their customers. In the above ad and the ad after the jump, Hyundai declares that if you lose your income, within a year after buying a new Hyundai, you can simply return the car. According to the Hyundai website, the program covers up to $7,500 in negative equity and lets the buyer off the hook for further payments without any negative impact to his/her credit.

In these uncertain times, there are two huge factors that worry consumers when buying a new vehicle:

1. Financial security. Why would I want to make a huge investment if I might lose my job in the next 6 months?

2. The security of the manufacturers. If these Auto Companies need a bailout to survive, how long will they still be able offer such amenities as long warranties and leases if they start running out of money again?

Hyundai addresses both concerns in both the ads.

I would not be surprised to see some major dealer groups offer this same kind of program. A car’s depreciation once it drives off the lot is an bloated lie. If a customer puts a minimum down and makes at least two payments, the negative equity should be minimal. But the confidence you give the consumer would be unmeasurable.

See the 2nd ad after the jump.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

What day is it? Tis the day Nissan delivers.

• Suzuki is doing whatever it takes to get you into a new car (other than of course, making a car I actually want to get into). See their new spots here and here.
• What’s the buzz around Mini. Fly funerals. Yeah, it’s as weird as it sounds.
• Speaking of Mini, here’s a horror spot that revolves around shopping carts. Not as weird as the above link, but equally as cool.
• More Mini. Here’s a Mini rocket.
• Childbirth is on the rise because couples want to get into the new Volkswagen Routan.
• Here’s a cool Volkswagen ad with a dog.
• Grip is important. At least Audi thinks so.
• Woman love shoes. That’s the basis behind this Chevy Traverse ad.
• The Lincoln MKS has liftoff. Yet another indie band shilling for a car.
• Ford sees a flat 2009 in Auto Sales in the United States. Investor says Ford best placed among the Big 3 to come out on top.
• And last but not least… Toyota’s ads sure have come a long way from the 1980′s.

That’s it for this week’s free for all. If you have any tips or ads you think would be a great addition to the free for all, please email at alopez@omni-advertising.com.

But if you don’t have time to read the article, here’s a quick summary.

Basically, Williams argues that offering deep discounts and huge markdowns changes the customer perception of the value of your product. If you slash the price on new car from $17,000 to $14,000, the customer views the vehicle as $14,000 car. Even after the price goes back up, the customer will still view the car as a $14,000 car, not a $17,000 car.

Williams say the best way to woo customers without endangering your brand is to offer more value with your product, like lifetime tires, oil changes, etc. This will attract customers without hurting your brand.