GM rolls out car exchange option for Chevy buyers

Sergio Rocha

As part of efforts to overcome sluggish domestic sales, GM Korea yesterday unveiled a new customer-care service plan that offers Chevrolet owners to opportunity to exchange their cars for a new one in the event of a qualifying accident during the first three years of ownership.

The new option was announced at an event yesterday in celebration of Chevrolet’s second anniversary in Korea.

“It [the new service] is about offering value to our consumers and Chevrolet will always remain a pioneer,” said Ankush Arora, the automaker’s vice president of sales, service and marketing. “In addition to the Chevy Care 3.5.7, customers will now have further assurance.”

Two years ago when GM Korea, changed its name from GM Daewoo and introduced the Chevrolet brand for the first time, it unveiled a customer care program called “Chevy Care 3.5.7” that includes three years of free maintenance, a five-year or 100,000-kilometer (62,000-mile) warranty and seven years of roadside assistance on new vehicle purchases. Yesterday’s new Chevy Care 3.5.7 Assurance program is an upgraded version that offers a choice of the three years of maintenance or a car exchange.

“We will continue to enhance our offerings so our relationship with customers gets stronger and stronger,” Arora said.

Last month, GM Korea sold 9,973 cars in Korea, a year-on-year decrease of 3 percent.

“We expect competition, but we’re going to play hard in the local market,” said Sergio Rocha, president and chief executive of GM Korea.

He added that this year the goal is to reach a 10 percent market share. GM Korea’s market share was 8.9 percent in 2011 and 9.5 percent last year.

By Lee Eun-joo [angie@joongang.co.kr]