Separately, the automaker announced it is offering employee pricing to all buyers on most of its 2008 lineup and some 2009 models, a move that three years ago triggered a jump in sales and identical moves by its Big Three rivals. Finally, GM also said it will stop offering lease incentives on nine models during the employee-pricing event, a move also prompted by falling used-vehicle values. 'These are all short-term tactics to jump-start activity for existing products,' said Jesse Toprak, executive director of industry analysis for Edmunds.com. 'It's not an ideal way of operating -- you want the product to sell itself -- but sometimes you don't have a choice. They're doing whatever they can to get rid of unsold inventory.' The employee-pricing offer, which runs through Sept. 2, follows news that GM's new vehicle sales slid 26 percent last month. The offer applies to all 2008 vehicles in stock, except for medium-duty trucks. The 2009 vehicles eligible for employee pricing are the Chevrolet Cobalt and HHR, Pontiac Vibe and G5 and Cadillac CTS. Some analysts warned against expecting the sales spike of summer 2005 when GM extended employee-pricing to all buyers. The approach helped boost GM's sales 47 percent in June 2005, but this offer's short duration and already high incentives on various models make it unlikely GM will see similar results, analysts said. Chrysler LLC said Tuesday it did not plan on matching the offer while a Ford Motor Co. spokesman did not return calls seeking comment. Chrysler is focusing on other offers, such as zero percent financing for 72 months and deals that lower monthly payments to the same level or lower than traditional lease payments, Chrysler spokesman Stuart Schorr said. Sales burst, then a declineEmployee pricing can shave thousands off a vehicle's cost. For example, a 2008 Chevrolet Suburban costs employees $37,273 compared to a manufacturer suggested retail price of $41,830, said Dick Genthe, president of Dick Genthe Chevrolet in Southgate. After GM extended employee pricing to everyone three years ago, rivals Ford and Chrysler matched the move and the Big Three saw their combined sales climb 26.5 percent the following month before the offers ended. Then, demand plummeted. Genthe expects dealers will see a spike in sales but not as large as three years ago because the size of the market has shrunk. 'For some, this will be a great opportunity,' he said. The sales offer could help thin inventory levels for GM, which had an 82-day supply of new vehicles as of Aug. 1, according to the Automotive News Data Center. That compares to an 83-day supply for Ford and 102 days for Chrysler, which has the second-largest stockpile of new vehicles among all automakers, second only to Isuzu.. The new warranty deal unveiled Tuesday could help attack a costly problem for GM. Last month, the automaker took a $1.3 billion hit on its investment in GMAC Financial Services, which along with other financial divisions has taken sizable losses on lease turn-ins. As residual values for SUVs and trucks fall, the finance arms end up selling the vehicles for less than they anticipated at auction. Brian McVeigh, GM's general manager of fleet and commercial operations, said the new warranty will help the automaker grow its business and reinforce falling residual rates. There is no deductible with the new warranty, which runs alongside a 5-year, 100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty. Used or pre-owned vehicles from GM and Saturn undergo a 117-point inspection, and the company offers 24-hour roadside assistance and courtesy transportation on those vehicles. 'We feel we've upped our game and made significant strides in quality and taking care of customers by standing behind our cars and trucks,' said Jamie Hresko, vice president of quality for GM North America. GM will stop offering lease incentives, at least until Sept. 2, on some of those cars and trucks. The models are: the 2008 and 2009 Chevrolet Malibu, Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Denali, the 2009 Pontiac G6, 2008 Saturn Outlook and Vue and 2009 Saturn Aura. The automaker is reducing incentives that support leases at below market prices and shifting the money to purchases, GM spokesman John McDonald said. For example, buyers could get a $750 bonus cash on the Buick Enclave until Tuesday but that figure rises to $1,500 today. Buyers also can receive the employee pricing on top of the $1,500 bonus cash. 'If you want to lease any vehicle with GMAC, you can still do it, but you will pay market rates,' McDonald said. GM will continue offering supported leasing on 2008 and 2009 Cadillac models and 2008 Saab models through Sept. 2.