Page 24 - Aruba Today
P. 24
A24
BUSINESSThursday 24 March 2016
March is a good month to find deals on Japanese cars
DEE-ANN DURBIN centive spending per auto-
AP Auto Writer
DETROIT (AP) — If you’re in maker.
the market for a Japanese
car, March is a good time But last March, TrueCar
to buy.
Unlike U.S., European and said, buyers paid less than
Korean automakers, which
end their financial year on they did in January or
Dec. 31, Japanese com-
panies such as Toyota Mo- February for many popu-
tor Corp. and Honda Motor
Co. close their books on lar Japanese vehicles, in-
March 31. In order to hit
their annual sales targets, cluding the Toyota Camry,
Japanese automakers usu-
ally ramp up the promo- Toyota RAV4, Honda Civic,
tions and deals in March.
Honda’s “Dream Garage” Honda CR-V. Several Nis-
ads are currently running
between college basket- san vehicles, including the
ball games. Lexus will make
your first month’s lease Rogue, Pathfinder and Ar-
payment. Nissan is promis-
ing bonus cash. Subaru’s mada SUVs and the Fron-
“Love Spring” sale prom-
ises zero-percent financing tier pickup, were cheaper
on Impreza and Legacy
sedans. Toyota is offering in March than in any other
$1,000 cash on a 2016 Co-
rolla. month of the year.
“March tends to be a
strong sales month for the Deals vary by model. Buy-
auto industry, but is partic-
ularly strong for the Japa- ers shopping for cars, for
nese makes as shoppers
flock to these sales,” says example, are more likely
Jeremy Acevedo, an ana-
lyst with the car buying site This Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015, file photo shows a sign at a Honda dealership in Miami Lakes, Fla. to find bigger incentives
Edmunds.com.
Among the current deals: Associated Press than buyers shopping for
— The 2016 Toyota Camry
SE is currently selling for as Camry include $500 cash August and September, of a 2016 Malibu, another SUVs. Low gas prices have
much as 11 percent off the plus zero-percent financing when the model year ends helped make SUVs more
manufacturer’s suggested for up to 60 months. and they want to clear the Camry competitor. appealing to consumers, so
retail price, or MSRP, ac- — Honda is offering the way for new models. But automakers are struggling
cording to car buying site 2016 Civic compact car Toprak says there are fewer Japanese automakers to sell cars. Nissan is offering
TrueCar.com. That’s a sav- for $179 per month with a vehicles available then, so zero-percent financing for
ings of $2,885. Deals for the 36-month lease. In Febru- buyers are better off shop- tend to spend less than 72 months plus $250 cash
ary, Honda was offering the ping in March. on its Sentra small car, for
Civic for the same monthly “March results in the best their Detroit rivals on incen- example, but is only offer-
price but for a longer term combination of very high ing zero-percent financing
of 39 months. That’s a dif- incentives and plenty of tives, partly because they for 60 months on its Rogue
ference of $537. vehicles to choose from small SUV.
— Subaru will lease you a for the consumers,” Toprak sell fewer pricey trucks. In- Deals may also vary by
2016 Outback SUV for $269 said. region or even by shop-
a month for 36 months. In Buyers also should watch centives can also cheapen per. Nissan is offering $500
February, a 36-month lease for other car companies cash this month to owners
was $289 per month. That’s mimicking the Japanese a brand’s image and lower of competing vehicles who
a savings of $720 over three brands to stay competi- buy or lease an Altima se-
years. Japanese automak- tive. TrueCar says Hyundai vehicles’ resale value. dan or a Rogue SUV. Mem-
ers spend an average of is offering savings of up to bers of the military, first-time
$1,592 on incentives per $4,000 off the retail price of Still, incentives help auto- buyers or recent college
vehicle in March, says auto the 2016 Sonata — a mid- graduates may get spe-
analyst and industry con- size competitor to the Toy- makers compete, especial- cial deals. Dealers can also
sultant Jesse Toprak, who ota Camry. Chevrolet is of- add extra cash or perks,
bases his numbers on data fering $1,500 cash to buyers ly if they have older models such as free car washes.q
that are in danger of being
eclipsed by newer rivals.
And they can pad sales
totals in a competitive mar-
ketplace. Toyota was the
world’s largest automaker
last year, beating Volkswa-
gen AG by around 220,000
vehicles.
TrueCar hasn’t yet issued
its sales forecast for this
month, which includes in-
from 2012 to the present.
They spend a little more in Amazon sues logistics exec hired by Target
NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon. tion at Target. Valdez’s du- the most efficient way pos-
com has sued its seasoned ties will include overseeing sible for retail customers,”
logistics executive nearly a planning, distribution and Amazon said in the suit.
month after he was hired transportation. The non-compete clause
by Target, saying he’s vi- Valdez, a 16-year-veteran was signed by Valdez in
olated a non-compete at Amazon.com, was most 2012, according to the suit.
clause that prohibits him recently vice president of Valdez is expected to start
from joining a rival for at operations, which handled his new job next week.
least 18 months. Amazon.com’s internation- “We have taken significant
The suit filed by Amazon this al supply chain expansion. precautions to ensure that
week in King County Supe- “Mr. Valdez’s new posi- any proprietary informa-
rior Court in Washington tion with a key Amazon tion remains confidential
claims that Arthur Valdez, competitor will involve the and we believe this suit is
hired as Target’s new chief disclosure and use of Am- without merit, “ said Target
supply chain and logistics azon’s confidential and spokeswoman Molly Sny-
officer, has already shared proprietary information to der in an email to The As-
trade secrets during the in- Amazon’s detriment and sociated Press Wednesday.
terview process. Target’s advantage in a “However, as this is pend-
And Amazon says Valdez core area of competition ing litigation, we are not
would be required to dis- between the companies: going to comment further
close Amazon’s confiden- the cost-effective and rap- at this time.”q
tial information in his posi- id movement of goods in
