GM to pay 1,000 dollars to Toyota owners to switch brands

(General Motors)

General Motors said Wednesday it would give owners of Toyota cars and trucks 1,000 dollars or free financing if they buy one of the US firm's models.

A day after Toyota suspended sales of eight models in the United States due to accelerator problems, arch-rival GM raced into the breach with the offers.

The incentives are available through the end of February, said a spokesman for GM, which was overtaken as the world's largest automaker by Toyota in 2008.

Toyota's decision to suspend the sales of the eight models in the US was the latest quality setback for the Japanese firm.

Last week it recalled 2.3 million cars and trucks in the US because of the accelerator problem.

That move had followed a recall of about 4.2 million vehicles in the US that began last year due to a risk of loose floor mats jamming the pedals.

"Dealers have been getting a lot of queries from customers who have expressed worries about their Toyota vehicles," the GM spokesman told AFP.

"So we want to be able to take advantage of that interest."

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