Big savings for teachers and their relatives.
2014 Buick LaCrosse.
Last Tuesday, General Motors announced a “GM Educator Discount program” for public and private school educators. The new program is similar to the one that it offers to suppliers, by presenting deeper discounts to a select group of consumers. The new program runs through Jan. 2, 2015.
Eligible Makes and Models
The educator program is open to current employees of a public or private school, and includes college and university employees as well. All 2014 and 2015 Chevrolet, Buick and GMC models are included except for the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 and the Chevrolet Spark EV. Cadillac is not participating.
“GM values the work our educators and support staff are doing across the county to create a strong, responsible workforce for the future,” said Linda Stouffer, manager, Vehicle Purchase Programs. “The GM Educator Discount is our way of showing our support and appreciation for everyone in the education community.”
The program’s launch comes as the automaker set an annual recall record despite six months remaining in the year. Still, GM’s US sales were up by 1 percent in June 2014 and are up 2.5 percent year to date.
2014 Chevrolet Silverado.
Discount Program for Educators
Under the program, consumers may buy or lease up to two discounted vehicles. Spouses and children under age 21 are eligible. Those children who are full-time students are eligible until they turn 25. Dealers have the right not to participate in the program.
The automaker also set up a website, Educator Discount to outline potential savings. A slide bar reveals the products available and the combined discounts. For instance, shoppers for the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze may save as much as $2,597 on a their purchase.
Specifically, a fairly well equipped Cruze ECO Manual would retail for $20,760. The Educator Discount Price would drop that amount to $20,162. Additional purchase bonus cash ($500) and consumer purchase cash ($1,500) would drop the final price to $18,162. Savings vary based on trim level and packages selected.
Other discounts include $2,487 off the 2014 Buick Regal, $7,666 from the GMC Sierra regular cab two-wheel drive model, and $2,109 savings for the 2014 Chevrolet Impala 1LT. Customers can review prices by including their zip code, the model year, the make and model of their desired vehicle and then review the results online. GM is showing “supplier price” for the discount on some pages, not “educator price.” Those prices should be the same.
2014 GMC Sierra Denali.
NEA Tie In
GM announced the educator program during the two-day National Education Association’s conference in Denver, where the automaker was an exhibitor. Besides suppliers and educators, GM offers special discounts to employees and their family members as well as to military personnel and veterans.
Despite the very public battering the GM has sustained this year over its record recalls, the company has managed to keep its sales up. It has also garnered several important awards and other recognition along the way.
For instance, Chevrolet took the No. 32 spot in Interbrands’ “Best Global Green Brands 2014” awards. Three Chevrolet models have played an important part in that recognition including the Volt PHEV, the Cruze diesel and the Spark EV.
Brand and Company Recognition
Elsewhere, Chevrolet placed two models atop the Strategic Vision New Vehicle Experience Study while GMC finished first in the 2014 J.D. Power vehicle satisfaction awards. General Motors also fared well in the 2014 Polk Automotive Awards.
Matt is a member of the Washington Automotive Press Association and is a contributor to various print and online media sources including NAPA, CarsDirect, CapitalOne, and Driven Autos.
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