Hyundai's new deal at the double

Jan 25 2010 Mike Torpey

Hyundai's new deal at the double

HYUNDAI is confident of attracting a raft of new customers courtesy of two schemes they believe will change the way cars are bought in Britain forever.

One is called Trade & Upgrade and allows buyers the same £2,000 part exchange allowance as scrappage customers - even after the government scheme ends.

The second plan, dubbed Happy Returns, offers the Korean company's existing scrappage customers the chance to swop to a new '10' registration in March for as little as £499.

'We have learnt some valuable lessons from the 33,000 people who have bought cars from us under the scrappage scheme' said Tony Whitehorn, Hyundai's UK managing director.

'They love transparent pricing. They hate haggling. And if they see a good deal they will snap it up. What we are offering post scrappage will build on this experience and will change the way cars are bought in the UK for ever.'

Trade & Upgrade will offer the 6.4 million owners of seven to 10-year-old cars in Britain the same £2,000 allowance offered to scrappage customers.

Unlike similar schemes, this one allows buyers to choose any new car from the Hyundai range, not just the more expensive models.

It's not only old car drivers who can benefit either. Happy Returns will allow those who bought a Hyundai using scrappage a fresh chance to own another new model.

Those who bought a new i10, i20 and i30 last year will be invited to swop it for a new Hyundai wearing the new '10' registration.

The swop can be made any time up until the car's first anniversary, saving the customer the cost of the first service and tax disc renewal. And the new car will also have a fresh five-year warranty.

The customer's contribution to the deal will be £499 for an i10, £599 for an i20 or £749 for an i30. Buyers will be able to trade up and down the range if they want to switch to a different car or add options.

Once the price of a service and tax disc are taken into account, it could mean that the 'cost to change' for an i10 customer could be around £250 - or £20 per month in depreciation. For the i20, buyers will be upgrading to a 2010 model year car with ESP as standard and an improved interior.

The scheme has been made possible because of the residual values of Hyundai 'i' cars and the demand for used cars in the Hyundai network.

Hyundai is also sending all 33,000 buyers who made use of scrappage a £250 Friends and Family voucher to spend on any new Hyundai model.