General Motors’ partnership with eBay to sell new cars through Calif. dealers set to end

GM’s trial program selling cars on eBay set to end

DETROIT — General Motors says it’s ending a trial program that put new cars for sale in California on eBay as it shifts its focus to national marketing efforts.

GM spokesman John McDonald said the trial was slated to end Wednesday, after a run of about six weeks.

Through eBay Inc.’s auto marketplace, car shoppers in California were able to negotiate a price with a dealer, or buy the vehicle at a fixed price and pick it up at a dealership.

McDonald said the Web site received 1.5 million visits, providing 15,000 leads for dealers. He said it was difficult to track how many cars were actually sold through the program.

GM is focusing on its money-back guarantee plan that allows unsatisfied car buyers to return the car for a refund.