GM’s trial program selling cars on eBay set to end

[rickaren]

GM’s trial program selling cars on eBay set to end

Posted Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009, 11:31 am in Employee News

General Motors Co. said Tuesday that it is concluding its partnership with eBay Inc. in which the automaker used the auction site to sell new cars through California dealerships, as it shifts focus to broader, national marketing programs, the Associated Press reported.

GM and eBay said the program was slated to end Sept. 30, and was not canceled for lack of participation. GM spokesman John McDonald deemed the program a “success” because it helped the Detroit-based company improve strategies to reach car buyers who typically don’t consider GM products, the news service said. Through eBay’s auto marketplace, car shoppers in California were able to negotiate a price with a dealer, or purchase the vehicle at a fixed price and pick it up at a dealership, the AP noted.

The eBay site received 1.5 million visits, producing 15,000 leads for dealers, the news service reported. About 227 California-based dealerships participated in the program. GM and eBay did not say how many cars were sold based on the program, the story said. (Associated Press)