• The Los Angeles Times , Thursday, October 27, 2011 10:50 AM

Chevrolet dealers and their sales staffs are taking charm classes at Disneyland locations in Anaheim, Calif., and elsewhere. The customer service initiative is the latest in a campaign by General Motors Co. to boost market share in California, where Chevy has been trounced in past years by import brands.

GM’s tri-partite California strategy involves boosting customer service, offering smaller, fuel-efficient vehicles, and sprucing up dealerships. A source said GM plans to give California dealers a combined $60 million to $100 million over the next year or so as long as they sign 10-year exclusive contracts to stick with the brand. GM declined to comment. One hundred franchises, most in the Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco metropolitan areas, will get $500,000 to $1.5 million in improvement funds.

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