DETROIT, Calif., June 18 (UPI) -- General Motors Corp. has increased its automakers' market share since it began offering the same discount to all customers that it offers its employees.
GM began offering its employee discount to all customers beginning June 1. Since then, its share of the U.S. automotive market has jumped to 30.3 percent, the consumer products ratings firm J.D. Power & Associates reported.
GM's market share had been hovering near 25 percent for most of the year, the New York Times reported Saturday.
"For General Motors, it's very successful because they're basically countering a string of bad months in terms of results," said Tom Libby, senior director of industry analysis at J.D. Power. "This is a dose of positive publicity that they needed."
GM's discount program is set to expire July 5.
