Ford Raises New Car Incentives- January 2004

DETROIT, Jan 14, 2004; Reuters reported that Ford Motor Co. announced a new consumer incentives program on Wednesday, hoping to lure more customers into showrooms with better deals on its cars and trucks.

The enhanced deals follow new incentives unveiled last week by Ford's cross-town rival General Motors Corp., which has led Detroit's profit-gouging price war for more than two years now.

Ford said it was beefing up cash rebates by $500 on some models, including its bulky Expedition and Excursion sport utility vehicles. It also lowered interest rates or extended zero-percent loan offers on some vehicles, including its new Freestar minivan.

Despite record-breaking incentives, Detroit's traditional Big Three automakers all lost U.S. market share last year.