Hyundai's $1.49 fuel promo causing traffic jams at gas stations across the country?
Hyundai gas promotion traffic - Click above for high-res image gallery
Well, imagine that. People like cheap gas. Enough, in fact, that they're willing to line up in droves just for the privilege of filling up their tanks. As if you needed further proof of this unfailing truth, here are the pictures to prove it. As part of its new Hyundai Assurance Gas Lock promotion, the Korean automaker ran an unannounced campaign in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles where consumers could purchase gas for just $1.49 per gallon.
The catch? There was just one location in each cities where the program was in effect and the location was kept secret until an hour before the promotion began. In a nod to modern social media users, Hyundai sent the information to its Twitter followers (@hyundainews) just before local radio stations announced the promotion city-wide about an hour before it started. Predictably, a mad rush to each location ensued. Nice little PR stunt, no?
Click past the break for the press release and check out the images of the madness shot on location at the Horace Harding BP gas station in New York. Similar scenes were reported in Chicago and LA.
Gallery: Hyundai gas promotion traffic
PRESS RELEASE:
FILL UP FOR A $1.49 PER GALLON AT HYUNDAI FUEL FILL UP EVENT IN LOS ANGELES
What - As we head into the July 4th holiday weekend, one of the busiest travel weeks of the summer, Hyundai is inviting the public to purchase gas at $1.49 per gallon between Noon – 2 p.m. local time at the Hollywood 76 gas station in Hollywood, CA.
Why - With gas prices pushing $3 per gallon during peak summer travel months, Hyundai is introducing Hyundai Assurance Gas Lock, a program that guarantees consumers a year's worth of gas at $1.49 per gallon on most Hyundai models leased or purchased between July 1 and August 31, 2009.
Hyundai is debuting the Hyundai Assurance Gas Lock program with the $1.49 Hyundai Fuel Fill Up event, a one-day promotion in the country's three largest cities (Los Angeles, Chicago and New York) where the general public can purchase gas at $1.49 per gallon between Noon – 2 p.m. local time.
Who Los Angeles event attendees will include:
* Monique Kumpis – Manager Experiential Marketing, Hyundai
When - Wednesday, July 1
Noon – 2 p.m. PDT
Where - Hollywood 76 gas station
5890 Hollywood Boulevard (SE corner of Hollywood and Bronson)
Los Angeles, CA 90028
All consumers are asked to enter the station from Bronson street, exit on Hollywood Blvd.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
ovrilmoneu 7:06PM (7/01/2009)
hello, i am new here
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ovrilmoneu 7:06PM (7/01/2009)
nice
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Who 'Dis? Who 'Dat? 7:15PM (7/01/2009)
For those old enough to remember, these photos look reminiscent to the early 1970's when OPEC placed an oil embargo on the U.S., and folks would literally line up for miles waiting to purchase a few gallons of gasoline at their local service stations.
Thank goodness this is just an advertising promotion.
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futurama 7:26PM (7/01/2009)
that's quite clever...
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futurama 7:28PM (7/01/2009)
way to go hyundai for making people talk.. once again. and having people experience it is a good way to make them remember!...
urdaddy 7:29PM (7/01/2009)
RAHH!!! &^#^*#!! I was just in Chicago and drove back home to upstate WI yesterday and I missed it. Man am I pissed!!!
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Tyler 2:34AM (7/02/2009)
Yeah! I too missed out on the potential opportunity to save $20, wait in line for a while, and potentially wait in line for nothing! GRRR I am pissed.
mike 7:32PM (7/01/2009)
i want a accent se 3 door :(
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Jake B 4:07AM (7/02/2009)
Why would someone get three stars for stating that.
That's like me saying I want a turd for dinner.
Wanted 7:37PM (7/01/2009)
Wow, did anyone else notice the HYUNDA- truck conveniently in the background of the third photo?
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dinnercoat 7:43PM (7/01/2009)
Wow, surprised I don't see any huge signs saying "Hyundai Assurance Gas Lock program" plastered all over that station and on every pump. Or better yet Hyundai salespeople chatting up those who are filling up their tanks, talking up comparable Hyundai models to whatever it is the person drove there.
Instead just one Hyundai truck probably there for the people coordinating this stunt.
Troll harder next time.
Wanted 9:53PM (7/01/2009)
Get off your high horse. It's as if I can't make an anecdote without being berated.
And, as far as I recall from all my time on the Internet, that hardly qualifies as what you call "trolling". But, it seems you've never seen a truck towing a Hyundai container before, and the sheer fact that it was on the highway, MOVING (albeit slowly judging by the amount of traffic in the picture), lead me to believe that it was indeed a coincidence. Not to mention the fact that the Hyundai containers are made and distributed by Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., a company NOT affiliated with Hyundai Motor America.
Galley 7:48PM (7/01/2009)
Here in Greenville, SC, we had gas shortages, rationing, and long lines in Sept. of last year. I'm sure that's fresh in plenty of folks' minds.
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mikemaj82 8:10PM (7/01/2009)
Huh? I thought that was an incentive you could get instead of $1000 cash back when you bought an eligible Hyundai vehicle? Why is the price of gas $1.49 for everybody?
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VP 8:30PM (7/01/2009)
It's called marketing. To promote their new incentive program, Hyundai gave away $1.49 gas to everybody. It will sure get all those people that waited in line to get the gas give Hyundai's new program a look.
mikemaj82 12:16AM (7/02/2009)
I seriously doubt it. Those people are just animals looking to save a few dollars on gas. If you're scrambling like that to get $1.49/gal gas, then you shouldn't be looking to buy a new car anytime soon.
Erik 10:43AM (7/02/2009)
"If you're scrambling like that to get $1.49/gal gas, then you shouldn't be looking to buy a new car anytime soon."
So True!!!
gerrrg 8:14PM (7/01/2009)
Better to simply NOT drive all the way over to that gas station, idle in line, and waste your gas.
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Protzenegger 8:51PM (7/01/2009)
Ah, but consumer psychology does wonders to the human mind.
Azrael4h 11:00PM (7/01/2009)
True, marketing trumps common sense. Otherwise, we wouldn't be in near the mess we are.