PURCHASING NEWS

2003 Final Order
Due Dates
AND 2004 MY
Startup Dates

Issue 312– June 16, 2003

For additional information go to
http://www.OnStar.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upcoming 2003 Final Order Due Dates, 2004 Startup Info

Listed below are the final order due dates for the last remaining 2003 models. The order banks for all other 2003 models are now closed.

Model/Equipment/Color

Final Order Due Date *

Ford/Lincoln/Mercury

Econoline paint colors: (FX) Burgundy Red and (BQ) Light Parchment Gold

6/18/03

Econoline Van/Wagon/Cutaway

6/27/03

Focus

7/18/03

GM

Special Equipment models: S-10 & Sonoma (non-Crew Cab)

6/17/03

S-10/Sonoma (non-Crew Cab)

7/15/03

* ARI recommends that final orders be submitted at least three business days prior to the due date. Manufacturers may change final order due dates without notice. Please visit the on-line version of the Purchasing News frequently for updates. Just go to www.arifleet.com, select the current issue of the Purchasing News, then select "2003 Final Order Dates".

2004 Order Banks

DaimlerChrysler
Order banks are now open for all 2004 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep models except Concorde, Intrepid and 300M, which are no longer available for factory ordering. Information about the LH replacement models will be forthcoming.

GM
GM is currently accepting orders for all 2004 MY vehicles except Bonneville (see related article), Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon and Chevy Malibu Maxx. Order banks for Colorado and Canyon are scheduled to open on June 30, 2003. The order acceptance date for the all-new Malibu Maxx is to be determined.

Ford
Order banks for all 2004 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models are now open.

Miscellaneous

  • All 2004 Mazda order banks are now open.
  • Nissan will begin accepting orders for Pathfinder, Xterra, Frontier and Titan on July 1, 2003. Order banks for all other models are now open.
  • Saab will begin accepting 2004 orders on June 30, 2003.
  • Saturn is currently accepting orders for 2004 ION and L-Series. The VUE will be available for ordering on August 4, 2003.
  • Subaru is accepting orders for all 2004 models.
  • Toyota Highlander, Sequoia and Prius will be available for ordering in July. All other 2004 models are now orderable.

Ford Announces 2004 Commercial Fleet Program

On June 5, 2003, Ford Motor Company announced its 2004 Model Year Commercial Fleet Incentive Program for Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Volvo and Mazda brands. An Early Order Incentive Program as well as a Taurus ABS Fast Start Incentive and E-Series Van Commercial Account Program were also included in the announcement.

Important Changes for 2004MY
A significant change in how Fleet Incentives are credited on the factory invoice has been made this year. Ford has consolidated the Taurus/Sable Commercial Fleet Credit (20F), the Crown Victoria Commercial Incentive (56S) and the Fleet Special Account Credit, which includes (UFA) and the Marketing Adjustment (FMA), into a single credit (56M) on the invoice. In other words, the 2004 Commercial Fleet Incentive amounts shown include all of the above, when applicable, and reflect the total off-invoice amount for each model.

Early Order Bonus
In addition to the National Fleet Incentive, additional savings are available to Commercial Fleet customers through Early Order Incentives. To receive this special incentive, orders must be received by the dates noted in the chart below and produced by 3/31/04, with the exception of Escape, which must be received by 9/15/03. The Early Order Bonus will be a separate line item credit on the factory invoice.

Taurus ABS Fast Start Incentive
In addition to the National Fleet Incentive and Early Order Incentive, Taurus LX and SE Sedan and SE Wagon models are eligible for free ABS. Option code (552) ABS must be selected to receive this free option, as it will not be automatically coded on the order. To receive the Fast Start Incentive, orders must be received by 12/31/03 and produced by 3/31/04,

E-Series Van Commercial Account Program
Commercial van customers can select one of the following three options at no-charge (please note – these options are not compatible with the Ford Commercial Truck Connections Upfit Reimbursement Program):

  1. No-Charge Power Group (option codes 43P + 62P) – Includes Power Windows, Power Door Locks and choice of Power Mirror (54Q) or (54E)
  2. No-Charge Racks and Bins Package (option code 31G)
  3. No-Charge EconoCargo Package (option code 31B)

Model

2004 National Fleet Incentive (56M)

2004 Early Order Incentive a/

Early Order Incentive Deadline

Ford Cars

Crown Victoria

$1,650

$0

N/A

Focus

$1,000

$0

N/A

Mustang

$600

$0

N/A

Taurus

$1,700

$500

12/31/03

Thunderbird

$405

$0

NA

Ford Trucks b/

Escape g/

$750

$500

9/15/03

E-Series Van/Wagon c/

$2,000

$500

12/31/03

Excursion

$1,800

$0

N/A

Expedition

$1,800

$500

12/31/03

Explorer 4DR

$1,500

$500

12/31/03

Explorer Sport Trac

$1,250

$500

12/31/03

F-150 Heritage (old body style)

$1,500

$500

12/31/03

F-150 (new body style)

$500

$0

N/A

F-Super Duty f/

$1,500

$500

12/31/03

F-650/750 d/

$4,200

$0

N/A

Freestar

$1,500

$500

12/31/03

Ranger

$1,500

$0

N/A

Lincoln

Aviator

$465

$0

N/A

LS

$1,500

$0

N/A

Navigator

$1,800

$0

N/A

Town Car

$2,400

$0

N/A

Mercury

Grand Marquis

$1,600

$0

N/A

Marauder

$545

$0

N/A

Monterey

$1,500

$500

12/31/03

Mountaineer

$1,500

$500

12/31/03

Sable

$1,700

$1,000

12/31/03

Mazda

Mazda3

$500

$600

12/31/03

Mazda6

$1,000

$600

12/31/03

Miata

$1,700

$0

12/31/03

MPV

$2,000

$600

12/31/03

Tribute

$750

$600

9/30/03

Truck

$1,550

$0

12/31/03

Volvo

C70

$1,500

N/A

N/A

S/V40

$1,500

N/A

N/A

S60

$1,500

N/A

N/A

S80

$1,500

N/A

N/A

V70

$1,500

N/A

N/A

XC70

$1,500

N/A

N/A

XC90

$0

N/A

N/A

a/ Commercial Early Order Incentives are not available to Government customers.
b/ Ford authorized pool accounts cannot order vehicles with a fleet incentive
c/ The E-Series (47M) RV Cutaway is not eligible for the National Fleet Incentive or Early Order Incentive
d/ The F53 Motorhome Stripped Chassis is not eligible for National Fleet Incentive or Early Order Incentive
f/ Completed vehicles purchased from certain body manufacturers may not be eligible for Fleet Incentives
g/ Due to the short Model Year, the Early Order Incentive will not carry over into the 2005 MY Escape.

NOTE: SVT vehicles are not eligible for National Fleet Incentives

Saab Announces 2004 Model Year Fleet Program, Early Order Bonus

Saab Cars USA, Inc. has announced its 2004 Model Year Commercial Fleet and Early Order Bonus Programs. All new and untitled 2004 Saab models are eligible. The programs offer eligible Fleet Customers incentives (option code VX5) based on the following schedule:

Model

2004 Commercial Fleet Incentive

2004 Early Order Bonus

9-3 Sport Sedan (except Convertible)

$500

$1,000

9-3 Convertibles

$500

$0

9-5 Sedan and SportWagon

$2,500

$1,000

The Incentive will be automatically deducted from the invoice for fleet vehicles that are factory ordered or delivered from Saab port inventory. The Incentive will be paid upon application for vehicles delivered to fleet customers for dealer inventory.

To be eligible Fleet Customers must have a valid General Motors Fleet Account Number (FAN). A qualified Fleet Customer is defined as any company that purchases and registers or leases five (5) or more new cars and/or trucks for use in its operations during the current or preceding twelve (12) month period.

Fleet discounts may not be combined with Saab promotional lease and finance rates and/or other retail programs.

Early Order Bonus
Qualified Fleet Customers placing factory orders for 2004 Model Year 9-5 Sedans and SportWagons and 9-3 Sport Sedan models by September 30, 2002, will receive a $1,000 bonus in addition to the Commercial Fleet Incentive amount.

To be eligible for the Early Order Bonus, vehicles must be factory ordered. Vehicles taken from Port or Dealer Stock do not qualify. The new 9-3 Convertible is ineligible for this incentive.

Orders must be received by the Saab Fleet Department by September 30, 2003, and delivered by December 31, 2003. Fleet Customers with a Competitive Assistance Program (CAP) currently in place are not eligible for this incentive unless specifically indicated in the CAP.

2004 Pontiac Bonneville Startup Set for October

2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP

Production of the Pontiac Bonneville will move from the Lake Orion Assembly Plant to Detroit Hamtramck Assembly Plant for the 2004 model year. As a result, startup for the 2004 Bonneville SE and SLE models will begin on October 15, 2003. GM will begin accepting preliminary orders on June 30, 2003.

A new Premier Edition package, option code (PDB), will be offered on the Bonneville SLE model for the 2004 model year. The SLE Premier Edition will include the following content and offer a special package discount of $1,200 MSRP:

  • (CF5/UG1) Power sunroof with universal garage door opener
  • (U2K) XM Satellite Radio
  • (N89) 17" Chrome wheels
  • (CJ2) Dual-zone air conditioning
  • (A51) Leather appointed seating
  • Available in colors (86U) Crimson Tintcoat or (93U) White-Gold Tricoat

The new Bonneville GXP model will replace the Bonneville SSEi. The Bonneville GXP will begin production in December 2003. Preliminary order acceptance for the GXP will begin on September 29, 2003.

2004 Taurus and Sable Security Approach Lamps Availability

Security Approach Lamps, previously standard on all Taurus SE & SES arrays, are now optional and will be coupled with Heated Side View Mirrors effective with Job #1 production.

The option code for Security Approach Lamps/Heated Mirrors is (54H) on SE Sedan & Wagon. The option is included with the Luxury and Convenience Package (96L) on SES Sedan & Wagon; however, Fleet customers can order it as a free-flow option on these models.

Previously standard on Sable GS and Wagon, Security Approach Lamps are now included in the optional Fleet Convenience Group (90F). They remain standard, along with Heated Mirrors, on the Sable LS Premium Series.

Order banks for the 2003 MY Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable are now closed. Ford is currently accepting orders for the 2004 models, which are scheduled to begin production on August 4, 2003.

GM, Saab Announce OnStar Availability on 2004 Models

General Motors and Saab have announced OnStar availability for the 2004 Model Year. Contrary to a previous document released by Saab in May, the automaker said it would like to clarify that OnStar is not standard on all of their models. Saab OnStar availability is as follows:
Model  OnStar Availability
9-3 Linear Sedan Optional
9-3 Arc Optional
9-3 Arc Convertible Optional
9-3 Vector Sedan Standard
9-3 Vector Convertible Standard
9-5 Linear Wagon Optional
9-5 Arc Sedan/Wagon Optional
9-5 Aero Sedan/Wagon Standard

GM's 2004 OnStar availability chart can be found in the special insert included in this issue, as well as on the web version of the ARI Purchasing News dated June 16, 2003 at www.arifleet.com.

Chrysler Group Decides Not to Build New Facility

 
After months of analysis, Chrysler Group President and Chief Executive Officer Dieter Zetsche announced that a proposed new manufacturing facility, incorporating innovative supplier initiatives for Windsor, Ontario, will not be built because of business viability issues.

A concept study was initially linked to contract negotiations last year with the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW). The labor agreement reached with the CAW was the first step for the proposed project. A Chrysler Group project team was put in place to begin exploring the business viability with potential suppliers and governments.

The business environment has significantly changed since last October, said Zetsche.  "The state of the automotive market has created a formidable hurdle," he said, "especially for a small, entry-level vehicle such as the one we were considering.  Additionally, competitive pricing, ongoing incentives and increasing overcapacity in North America led us to conclude that this is not the time to add new capacity."

The proposed project involved building a new state-of-the-art assembly plant, with major parts of the production process turned over directly to suppliers.  The suppliers would have been responsible for some of the investment, hiring of employees and managing those areas of the plant. 

Zetsche said that even though a viable business case could not be made, the business model followed on the project is worth considering in the future. He also added that the automaker will continue to go forward with previously announced new product introductions.

GM Aims to Reopen Oklahoma City Plant by End of Month

Crews have been working around the clock to repair GM's Oklahoma City Assembly Plant, which suffered extensive tornado damage last month. GM said it hopes to have the plant up and running by June 30, 2003.

Over 50 companies have been hired to repair and rebuild the plant - parts of which were nearly destroyed, while other parts remained intact. "The devastation around the plant is really tremendous," said Jim Cosgrove, vice president of Gallagher-Kaiser Corp., one of the repair companies hired by GM.

The automaker is giving itself less than 30 days to clean up, repair and rebuild the damaged portions of the plant – a task that many believe should take up to four months.

The Chevy Trailblazer EXT and Envoy XL, the only two models produced at the plant, remain on hold until further notice.

NHTSA Releases "Ease of Use" Child Seat Ratings

The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released an initial set of ratings for child safety seats based on their ease of use.

Under the new rating system, child safety and booster seats are given an overall ease-of-use rating of "A," "B," or "C". These grades are also used to rate seats in each of the five following categories:

  1. Whether the seat is pre-assembled or requires assembly after purchase.
  2. Clarity of labeling attached to the seat.
  3. Clarity of written instructions on the seat's proper use.
  4. Ease of securing a child in the seat.
  5. Whether the seat has features that make it easier to install in a vehicle.

To date, 68 seats have been rated by NHTSA, representing about 95 percent of the seats available to consumers. Convertible seats were rated in both the rear-facing and forward-facing mode and combination seats were rated in both the forward-facing and booster modes. Thirty-nine overall "A" and 68 overall "B" ratings were given. While no seat received an overall "C" rating, several received a "C" in one or more individual rating categories.

For a list of current child safety seat ratings, visit NHTSA's website at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/CPS/CSSRating.

 


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Pool Vehicle Inventory


CARS

Year

Make

Cyl

Model

Dr

Location

Invoice

Ref #

03 Ford 6 Taurus SE 4 Wakefield, RI $16,780 15188
03 Chevrolet 6 Impala Sedan 4 Mt. Laurel, NJ $18,964 12484

TRUCKS

Year

Make

Cyl

Model

Location

Invoice

Ref #

03 Chevrolet 8 Suburban 1500 4x2 Carlsbad, CA $30,208 96657
03 Chevrolet 6 Venture Value Van Flourtown, PA $19,1702 Multiple
03 Chevrolet 6 Venture Value Van Mechanicsburg, PA $19,170 08358A
03 GMC 8 3500 Chassis Cab 4x2 Gilroy, CA $29,256 Multiple
03 Ford 8 F150 Regular Cab 4x4 Guyman, OK $25,121 770309
03 Ford 8 F150 Crew Cab 4x4 Appleton, WI $27,248 03006
When a "stock purchase" is desired, you may consider using a vehicle from the ARI "pool" to save money and time.

Call your ARI representative for details!

 


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General Motors 2004 OnStar Factory Installed Vehicle Availability - Fleet Vehicles - United States

 
Directions & Connections Plan - One Year Subscription:  
Cadillac DeVille DeVille              
DeVille DHS DTS          
Escalade Escalade              
All Escalalde             
Escalade ESV Escalade ESV             
All Escalade ESV             
Escalade EXT Escalade EXT                   
All Escalade EXT                  
Seville SLS     STS              
1SA 1SB 1SC 1SA 1SD 1SE 1SF        
SRX SRX                    
1SA 1SB 1SC                
XLR XLR                    
1SA 1SB                  
Safe & Sound Plan - One Year Subscription:
Cadillac CTS CTS                    
1SA 1SB 1SC                
Buick Century Custom                    
1SA (FF) 1SB (FF) 1SC (FF)     Legend          
LeSabre Custom   Limited     OnStar is NOT Available  
1SA 1SE  (FF) 1SE      
Park Avenue Base   Ultra     OnStar is Standard in the PEG  
1SA 1SE 1SE      
Rainier   CXL         OnStar is included in a Value Package  
    1SC 1SD        
Regal   LS     GS   OnStar is available as a Free Flow option  
    1SA (FF) 1SB (FF) 1SC (FF) 1SD    
Rendezvous CX   CXL                
1SA 1SB 1SC 1SD              
Chevrolet Avalanche1   LS   Z71 LT              
      1SJ (FF) 1SK (FF) 1SL 1SM 1SN            
  Cavalier   Base   LS LS Sport              
      1SA 1SB