• by Karl Greenberg , July 1, 2009

June is turning into a rout at auto showrooms, as sales disappoint at the beginning of driving season. Several automakers have responded with free gasoline and big discounts. General Motors has launched a new incentive offer, which runs through Monday. The "72-hour sale" offers 0% and reduced-rate financing for up to 72 months to qualified buyers on select vehicles.

GM is also announcing that it will have twice as many qualifying vehicles under the Federal "Cash for Clunkers" program, once it is finalized, than any other manufacturer.

The company is offering Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra regular, extended and crew cab light-duty pickups; Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL SUVs; Chevrolet Impala; and the Pontiac models: Vibe, G3, G5, G6 and G8 under the financing deal. Other vehicles will have reduced-rate financing of 0% for up to 60 months.

On Tuesday, Hyundai launched a program offering $1.49 per gallon for a year to people who buy its new vehicles. Now, American Suzuki Motor Corp. has announced a nationwide sales promotion, The Suzuki "Free Gas for Summer," running through August. The promotion dangles three months of free gasoline on retail purchases of new 2009 Suzuki SX4 Sedan and 2009 SX4 Crossover models.

The automaker is also offering $2,000 in customer cash on all 2009 SX4 models equipped with manual transmission.

Consumers who take the Suzuki deal get a stored-value debit card that can be used for fuel purchases, with the amount on the card based on the three-month time frame for summer driving, the car's EPA estimated highway mpg, the Federal Highway Administration's estimated average of 1,000 miles driven per month and the U.S. national average price of one gallon of regular gasoline as determined by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Chrysler is running a "Summer Clearance" at Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep dealerships. The effort comprises 0% financing for 60 months through GMAC Financial Services on select 2009 model vehicles, or up to $4,000 Consumer Cash on 2009 model vehicles.

Chrysler says it is also offering up to $1,000 cash on some 2008 and 2009 vehicles. The offers are in addition to the Credit Union Bonus Cash of up to $1,000 on select products for qualified credit union members who finance their new vehicle purchase through a participating Credit Union under the Invest in America program.

Ford also recently launched a program "Recycle Your Ride" intended to promote Ford's vehicles as new vehicles for consumers to trade clunkers in for under the CARS program.