Chevrolet to let buyers return cars after two months

By Nathan Bomey, USA TODAY and the Detroit Free Press

It's not exactly a money-back guarantee, but it's pretty darned close: General Motors said today that it will allow Chevrolet buyers to return their vehicles for up to one to two months after making the purchase.

GM announced this morning that participating U.S. dealerships will allow consumers to return 2012 or 2013 model-year vehicles with several conditions attached as part of the "Chevy Confidence" program.

Among the stipulations: Chevys must be "bought during the program" and have fewer than 4,000 miles on the odometer with "no damage," GM said in a news release. The vehicles can be returned within 30 to 60 days after they were sold, GM said.

Separately, GM said it would offer "special preferred prices" on 2012 Chevrolets.

"No mystery about it -- the price you see is the price you pay," GM said.

GM also revealed a new 60-second TV commercial boasting about the "love it or return it guarantee" with narration by Michigan actor Tim Allen, who also narrates the "Pure Michigan" ads.

"Chevrolet had the greatest year in our history last year, and we're making our highest quality, most advanced cars ever," Allen says in the commercial. "But judge for yourself. if you're not happy with your new Chevy, return it."

The Chevy Confidence program comes more than three years after competitor Hyundai introduced Hyundai Assurance, which originally allowed consumers to return vehicles if they lost their jobs.

Chris Perry, now Chevrolet's global vice president of marketing, developed Hyundai Assurance when he was leading marketing at the Korean automaker.

"Our research shows consumers are reassured of the quality of a product and like the peace of mind that comes with knowing they have the option of being able to return their vehicle," Perry said today in a statement.

The moves come as Chevrolet is expected to approach the 5 million mark for global sales in 2012 after hitting 4.76 million units in 2011.

In June, GM surprised industry observers by regaining market share it had lost earlier in the second quarter to the resurgent Japanese automakers.