GM of Canada giving away 150 new vehicles

GM recently gota tremendous amount of exposure in the U.S. by giving 150 Pontiac G6s toguests of an Oprah Winfrey show, and now here comes GM of Canada with what isbelieved to be the largest no-purchase-necessary vehicle giveaway in Canadianhistory, and it includes many big-ticket models.

Before GM's HotButton promotion ends on January 3, 2005, the Oshawa-based company will bestow 150GM vehicles (plus all applicable taxes and fees) on people all across Canada, as wellas consolation prize discounts of up to $10,000 on a new vehicle purchase.

To be eligiblefor the Hot Button program, explains GM of Canada's Marc Comeau, customers needonly spend a few minutes in any one of the firm's 795 dealerships.

''If you havethree minutes to spare, you have what it takes to win a new GM vehicle,'' saysthe vice-president of marketing, service and sales for GM Canada.''

Comeau also saysthat ''the largest ever GM year-end event also awards discounts of up to$10,000 towards the purchase of most new 2005 and 2004 GM vehicles,'' includinga selection of luxury and high-performance vehicles such as the new ChevroletCorvette, GMC Yukon Denali, Chevrolet SSR, Pontiac G6, Saturn Ion Redline, andSaab 9-3 convertible.

For all vehiclewinners, Comeau says, GM Canada pays freight, air conditioning excise tax (whereapplicable), dealer administration fees, and applicable sales taxes.

The GM HotButton Event is open to eligible Canadian residents who have reached age ofmajority and possess a valid driver's license.

Comeau says it'seasy to take part.

''Qualifiedparticipants visit any participating GM retail location and push the blueOnStar button in a designated GM Hot Button vehicle,'' he says. An operator atthe service centre for the 24-hour safety and security office will take some''basic information'' from the participant to ensure that they meet the minimumeligibility standards and for ''contest administration purposes.''

Once thatinformation has been recorded, Comeau explains, the call is transferred to arandom prize response that announces exactly what the participant has won.

''Every participantmay receive a grand prize -- one of 150 hot new 2005 GM models -- or a prizeconsisting of a time-limited credit off the purchase or lease of a new GM modelor receive a minimum award,'' says Comeau.

Other GM HotButton prizes include 6,000 time-limited awards ranging from $2,000 to $10,000off the purchase or lease of new eligible 2005 and remaining 2004 models.

At a minimum, saysComeau, all eligible participants will be awarded either $1,000 or $500 off thepurchase or lease of most 2005 and 2004 Chevrolet, Cadillac, Pontiac, Buick,GMC, Saturn and Saab vehicles.

For full contestrules and regulations, please visit www.gmcanada.com, your GM dealer/retaileror call 1-800-GM-DRIVE.
photo:General Motors