: Even if the second car was free, it created a new customer relationship for service plans, extended warranties, and future trade-ins. Consumer Reality Check

True "buy one get one free" deals on vehicles are rarely a simple giveaway of two equal assets. Historically, these promotions followed a specific pattern:

: Giving away small, fuel-efficient cars helped manufacturers offset the environmental impact of their high-emission SUVs in official sales figures.

: It allowed dealers to move two pieces of "stagnant metal"—often a sedan and a large SUV—off the lot simultaneously.

: The second vehicle was typically a base-model sub-compact with minimal features, like a Mitsubishi Mirage or a Kia Rio .