In anticipation of receiving $1.5 billion in federal aid, Chrysler LLC has unveiled a range of financing packages geared toward luring consumers to part with their hard-earned cash including zero financing with a term of as much as 60 months on select 2008 and 2009 models.

The current deals will be effective from Sunday, January 18, and Chrysler has indicated even more incentives will be forthcoming. Speaking to reporters during a conference call on Saturday, January 17, Chrysler co-president Jim Press said, "We can now buy credit and get customers in the 620 [credit score] range, which dramatically opens the footprint of customers who can buy from our dealers."

Indicating that Chrysler Financial has been "virtually not been able to be active in retail credit in last 30 to 45 days at all," Press said of the government aid, "This loan is securitized for the retail loans to customers buying cars. It has nothing to do with wholesale or capitalization of dealerships."

The company's executive vice president for North American sales and service, Steven Landry described the hardship under which dealers have operated in recent weeks, "Dealers told us after December that not having Chrysler Financial cost us 20 to 25 percent sales. We could see a significant lift."

Chrysler discontinued auto leasing last August and according to Press, there are no plans to return to leasing as a result of receiving federal funds.