'Tis the Season!

Twas the week before Christmas and all through the dealership... cars were flying off the lot! We had a lot of folks come in last week and purchase a few cars before the holiday. Check out some of their videos. Everyone here at Team Auto Group of Salisbury hopes you and your family had a wonderful holiday!

Proceeds from sale of Military Tribute Camaro will go to Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans

Chevrolet and Team Auto Group supports all veterans and active military, and we love seeing so many people across the nation supporting the military, too. 

Here's a great article from General Motors about last weekend's Army/Navy game, where a special 2012 Chevy Camaro was showcased. The Camaro, professionally painted by renowned artist Mickey Harris, and supporting all branches of the U.S. armed forces, will be sold in January and all proceeds will go to the Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans! Awesome!

DETROIT – At last Saturday’s 112^th Army-Navy Game presented by USAA, Chevrolet announced that proceeds from next month’s sale of a special Military Tribute Camaro will go to the Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans.

Chevrolet hosted several military families and Achilles team members at the game, and is paying tribute to wounded servicemen and women and the team with a 30-second TV spot and a short tribute to members who participated in the recent Detroit Free Press / Talmer Bank Marathon.

“We at Chevrolet want to do all we can to show our gratitude to the men and women serving in our armed forces, those who come home with life-changing injuries, like Cpl. Gaertner, and our fallen heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country,” said Chris Perry, vice president, Chevrolet Global Marketing and Strategy.

The Military Tribute Camaro represents all five branches of the armed forces (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard) and some of the military’s highest individual awards and current campaign medals. It will be sold by Barrett-Jackson, an auctioneer of collector vehicles, at its Jan. 17-22 event in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The car was designed by award-winning artist Mickey Harris. Harris, who grew up on military installations, has been airbrushing for 33 years and has an extensive portfolio of military art that has earned him worldwide acclaim.

Chevrolet’s support for military men and women includes:

Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans: The Achilles Freedom Team helps wounded veterans of all services overcome their injuries through mainstream athletics, primarily marathons. It has doubled in size since 2010. This year, Chevrolet underwrote a portion of Achilles costs for participating in the Los Angeles, Boston and Detroit marathons, as well as other events. Chevrolet also has donated 20 hand cycles to the team.

Cell Phones for Soldiers: Chevrolet actively supports this program that provides phone cards to service men and women. During Chevrolet Military Appreciation Month in May, Chevrolet raised $212,000 (100,000 hours of talk time) from the auction of the Honor and Valor Limited Edition Camaro SS and Chevrolet donations of $100 for every car and truck sold. Since 2010, Chevrolet has collected more than 70,000 used cell phones, generating about 70,000 hours of talk time.

Travis Manion Foundation: The GM Foundation gave $250,000 to this foundation that assists veterans and the families of fallen heroes. Its namesake is First Lt. Travis L. Manion, killed in 2007 in Iraq by sniper fire while defending against an enemy ambush. Every September 11, the foundation brings local communities together for a 9/11 Heroes Run to remember, honor and support service men and women, police, firefighters and first responders.  

GM Military Discount Program: Considered the most generous military discount program in the industry, GM offers GM Preferred Pricing (the same price extended to GM suppliers) on any Chevrolet (except Volt), Buick or GMC. Through October, GM sold 12,389 vehicles: The Chevy Silverado, Cruze and Camaro were the most popular.

Chevrolet also sponsored 19 air shows across the United States this year, eight of them on military installations. In addition, about 8,500 service members, their families and guests at the Naval Air Station in Mayport, Fla. were treated to a private concert starring country singer Brad Paisley.

Feds want to ban use of cell phone while driving... OnStar has a solution for that!

We all know not to text and drive, but what about a quick email or Facebook check? It takes a little less effort when behind the wheel, but it's just as dangerous. Well, the Feds are actually wanting to ban the use of a cell phone when behind the wheel. Period. 

So what does this mean to everyone driving on a daily basis for work, making phone calls to colleagues, clients, family or friends? If the Feds have their way, and the states enforce the ban, you can't do it. But, if you have a Bluetooth you can still talk... and if you have OnStar, you can do just about anything.

Earlier this year OnStar rolled out a new program that allows you to not only talk on the phone through your car, but to send a text message, such as, "I'm driving," or, "I'll call you back soon." You can also have your Facebook updates, texts and emails read to you through OnStar. And it's free with your OnStar subscription.

And, if you have an Android phone or iPhone, you can download an app - myChevrolet -  for your 2011 or 2012 cars that will help in many ways.  You can search the owner's manual for your car, find a parking spot, and even monitor your car --- the phone will send you a notification if any fluids are low, tire pressure, or anything else strange that may be going on with your car. The OnStar app lets you unlock or start your car remotely, but runs around $18 a month. 

Come by Team Auto Group today to test drive a car and get to know more about the OnStar app for your phone and using OnStar to update Facebook, send texts and emails, and communicate through the car. 

Here's some more info directly from OnStar:

  

Research indicates that 42 percent of all drivers have texted while driving (Pew Internet & American Life Project, 2009), which has emerged as a major safety concern in recent years. With the OnStar voice communications app, there is no need to look away from the road or take hands off the wheel to get incoming messages or send outgoing messages As more and more drivers pair their Bluetooth phones with their vehicles, OnStar wants to add value to the mobile connection and offer a safer and easy alternative for staying connected while driving.

Full launch is planned for later in the first half of 2011 through the Android Market, after thorough research and testing; cost to be determined.

Key Features:

Incoming SMS text messages and Facebook updates are converted from text to synthetic speech by the app, then sent via Bluetooth to the vehicle's speakers or to the speakers in the OnStar retail product.

Drivers can respond by voice through the in-vehicle or retail product microphone in several ways:
o Select by voice command among a list of defined messages, such as "Yes," "No" and "Driving."
o Speak a custom message, which is transcribed into text; also custom messages can be posted as audio clips in Facebook.
o For text messages, say "Call Back" and the driver's phone will automatically dial the phone number associated with the incoming message.
o For text messages, set an automatic reply to all incoming messages, such as: "I'm on the road until 3 p.m. and can get back to you then."
o For Facebook updates, the driver can say "Like" to like a friend's update.

Three operating modes help drivers learn how the app works:
o Beginner – provides full voice prompts for all features.
o Intermediate – provides fewer and shorter voice prompts.
o Expert – no voice prompts.

Requirements: A mobile phone running Android 2.2 or higher; either a GM vehicle with built-in Bluetooth or a vehicle equipped with the new OnStar retail product. OnStar is considering expanding the app in future to work with other manufacturer's in-vehicle Bluetooth systems, and adapting the app to run on other mobile platforms.

Here are pictures of the OnStar app

Judy purchases her eighth car with Team Auto Group

Judy stopped by Team Auto Group last week and ended up trading in her 2006 HHR for a 2011 HHR. And it happened to be her birthday! We hope she had fun zooming around town in her new car on her birthday!  

Congratulations, Judy, and thanks for your dedication to Team Auto Group!