GM Discounts ’02 Vehicles up to $1,000

General Motors Corp. put discounts of as much as $1,000 on 2002 model-year sedans, luxury cars and minivans that reached showrooms last month to try to boost sales and reverse declining market share.

The largest auto maker is offering $1,000 cash back on seven mid-size sedans including the Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac Grand Am and on four luxury models, including Buick Park Avenue and Oldsmobile Aurora. Some small pickups, minivans and small sport-utility vehicles also were discounted.

The discount also was offered to buyers of the Chevrolet S-10 crew cab, minivans including the Venture and Montana, and SUVs such as the two-door Blazer.

“This is definitely not a good move,” said Gordon Wangers, president of Automotive Marketing Consultants Inc. in Vista, Calif. “How do you build the perception of desirability of your new products when you have to give them away?”

Discounts on 2002 models run through Jan. 15, and additional discounts on 2001 models end Oct. 1.

General Motors shares rose 46 cents to $62.65 on the New York Stock Exchange.