Ford ad slams Chrysler, GM bailouts

[Wretched]

Not a fan of the ad.
They could have gone a better angle than sinking to this.

Ford did also investigate taking government bailout too.
I do applaud them for not taking it and it seems to have paid off greatly, the public seem to respect them for it too. I don't see the need for them to scrape the bottom of the barrel with these kind of ads. There is also the fact that Chrysler paid back its loans via the merger with Fiat.

Try again Ford.

[russellw]

The ad will work fine. It's hard to explain without actually spending real time there but the Americans love this kind of stuff that would have us (as many above have noted) cringing.

If we just remember that nothing is too kitsch, trite, banal or patriotic for the tastes of middle America then you'll have an idea.

Cheers
Russ

[MAD]

Originally Posted by jpd80

There is still a lot of seething hatred for GM in the US, the goverrnment is looking at taking
close to a $15 billion bath on its stock while GM sits pretty with $32 billion cash at hand..
GM is now profitable and many are asking why the government is getting shafted while
GM feels no obligation to do the right thing and cover any short fall.

GM 'New GM' are trying to say that they are a different company now and dont need to honour warranties from the 'old' GM.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/...77I0Z820110819

It entirely depends on which angle you take these quotes from. On one hand they sound like they are very proud of their chosen manufacturer, but on the other they sound like they are laying a boot in. But as pointed out by Russ, that's from Australian eyes. I dont know how the yanks think about things like this.

[ltd]

Originally Posted by russellw

The ad will work fine. It's hard to explain without actually spending real time there but the Americans love this kind of stuff that would have us (as many above have noted) cringing.

If we just remember that nothing is too kitsch, trite, banal or patriotic for the tastes of middle America then you'll have an idea.

Cheers
Russ

100% correct.
Whilst some here correctly view it as being a little below the belt and unsporting, Americans will lap it up because they take their nation and its financial woes very very seriously. Patriotism is alive and well in the USA right now, and according to opinion polls the Obama administration who administered the bailouts is about as popular as speed cameras.
It's definately needed as Ford often gets grouped into the "US Automakers - bailouts" catchcry and they need to ensure the average American disassociates Ford with that classification. It's incredibly educational and in a land where they're on hard times, patriotism and standing up for what they believe is the right thing to do will conquer any dissention of the message.

[GK]

Americans will love the ad for sure. They hate government bailouts, whereas here in Aus, we always seem to expect the government to fix our woes.

That is a fundamental difference between our two nations and whilst such ads here would probably flop, in the US, they will boost sales.

GK

[vztrt]

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/16/a...ailout-w-poll/

Seems the poll on the autoblog website seems to be in favour of the ad.

[JG34JA]

Gotta admit I am still stunned when I think of the fate of the GM bondholders...

Let the ad run, if you were smart/lucky enough to secure finance at cheap rates before the GFC hit, and still remain listed and independently owned/run, let people know. It's in the spirit that Henry would have wanted.*

*He would have gone further: paid back debts, bought back and unlisted the company, vertically integrated and owned all the supply chain, then used scale and this power to deliver ever more affordable products to the customer each year, empower people with technology, like providing Model T's that farmers could fuel with their own crops to secure their own independence - it's what he did first time around. It's the spirit that made America great when it was once a capitalist nation...

[kypez]

Originally Posted by ltd

It's definately needed as Ford often gets grouped into the "US Automakers - bailouts" catchcry and they need to ensure the average American disassociates Ford with that classification.

Couldnt agree more. The number of people I've spoken to both here and in America that think Ford also was bailed out is quite surprising and disturbing as well.

I love it! They have to stick it to the opposition. Wish Ford would have an ad here that shows the FG is safer than the VE in an ad that said, Not all 5 star cars are the same, showing the FG's higher score than the VE even without the side airbags (that have caused so much issue in the media).

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by kypez

I love it! They have to stick it to the opposition. Wish Ford would have an ad here that shows the FG is safer than the VE in an ad that said, Not all 5 star cars are the same, showing the FG's higher score than the VE even without the side airbags (that have caused so much issue in the media).

Be careful going down that path, the Cruze is safer than the FG Falcon

Cruze scored 35.04 out of 37
Falcon scored 34.6 out of 37

Although I would rather be in a Falcon in a crash.

[kypez]

Originally Posted by Brazen

Be careful going down that path, the Cruze is safer than the FG Falcon

Cruze scored 35.04 out of 37
Falcon scored 34.6 out of 37

Although I would rather be in a Falcon in a crash.

Good point. My mistake there.

I was leaning towards the idea rather than that actual thing, ie, something where the Ford is undisputed leader in VS Holden (other than power as that subject gets old and boring very quickly unless HSV/FPV, but thats another topic).

Wonder if the FG2 with the side bags standard outscores the Cruze (will they test it again though?!)

[Carby]

Hasn't Chrysler/Fiat paid back the Government now?

I think the bailouts are far more palatable than seeing two Automotive Icons go with probable loss of hundreds of thousands direct employee jobs and satellite company employees on the dole as a result of the plant closures all over the US let alone the affect in other countries...........

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Carby

Hasn't Chrysler/Fiat paid back the Government now?

I think the bailouts are far more palatable than seeing two Automotive Icons go with probable loss of hundreds of thousands direct employee jobs and satellite company employees on the dole as a result of the plant closures all over the US let alone the affect in other countries...........

Sergio had Chrysler's debt refinanced, the 19.7% interest rate that Treasury was changing was killing him...

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Sergio had Chrysler's debt refinanced, the 19.7% interest rate that Treasury was changing was killing him...

http://www.media.chrysler.com/newsre...id=10922&mid=2

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/03/f...m-chrysler-st/

[vztrt]

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/19/c...onds-to-criti/

Customer in controversial Ford bailout slam ad responds to critics on YouTube



By Jeff Glucker RSS feed

Posted Sep 19th 2011 2:58PM
17030
Comments154


We only know him as Chris, but his words are reverberating around the automotive and business sectors at the moment. He's the star of an unscripted Ford ad that puts real customers in front of not-so-real reporters. Chris was asked why buying American was important to him, and his response centers on the fact that Ford did not take bailout money unlike General Motors and Chrysler.

Chris has decided to post a video of his own to address some of his critics and to try to set the record straight. The Ford fan responds to criticism that this ad was staged, and also explains why he chose to buy his F-150. In addition, Chris also watched and recorded a Fox News segment, and that clip has talking heads Megyn Kelly, Mike Tobin and Steve Moore offering up their take on the Ford spot. Click past the jump to see the original ad, Chris' response and the opinion of Fox News.

Ford Commercial Response

Fox News Megyn Kelly Ford Anti bailout Commentary

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Carby

Hasn't Chrysler/Fiat paid back the Government now?

I think the bailouts are far more palatable than seeing two Automotive Icons go with probable loss of hundreds of thousands direct employee jobs and satellite company employees on the dole as a result of the plant closures all over the US let alone the affect in other countries...........

I think Chrysler/Fiat paid back what they were required too, but it was still a few billion short of the total they recieved in the bailout.

[Falc'man]

Originally Posted by vztrt

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/19/c...onds-to-criti/

That analyst has all praise for the ad and Chris' message. My only hope is that it doesn't backfire in any way. In the short term at least the ad's certainly worked.

[Ben73]

Chrysler is awesome.
GM is awesome.
Ford is awesome.

I like Models of cars and don't like or hate an entire car make.

[BHDOGS]

its caused controversy which is the whole point of an advert and this one has certainly worked wonders ford will be happy

[1971]

is there a link to see the ad as they seem to be removed?

[ray38l]

Ford deep down would be happy with the bailouts. Think about how many people couldnt buy new cars if gm had of went under.

[vztrt]

Ford yanks bailout ad amidst controversy

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/27/f...versy-w-video/

[vztrt]

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/30/c...-it-pulled-ad/

Chairman of House Oversight asks Ford why it pulled ad
By Zach Bowman RSS feed
Sep 30th 2011 1:00PM

The U.S. House of Representatives is investigating the motives behind the recent decision by Ford to pull an ad from its YouTube account that's critical of the government bailouts of General Motors and Chrysler, only later to restore it. Representative Darrell Issa, R-California, has asked Alan Mulally, president and CEO of Ford, for a "full and complete explanation" of his company's reasoning for temporarily pulling the ad. Earlier this week, Ford reportedly said that the ad was removed from the company's YouTube page as part of a planned rotation, and that it would continue to run online (there's no word on whether Ford will resume airing the ad on television, however).

In addition, Ford says that it continues to support the automotive bailout on the grounds that the automotive industry is a tight-knit network of companies, unions and workers. According to The Detroit News, Issa is specifically concerned that Ford received undue pressure from the White House to pull the ad. That's an allegation that Dan Pfeiffer, White House communications director, staunchly denies. Nevertheless, Issa has asked Ford to turn over any documents that pertain to the discussion of the ad. If you still haven't seen the ad for yourself, we've embedded it after the jump.

[Falc'man]

Well there you have it, GM's parent isn't happy after all.

[MethodX]

ah, Ford has accepted money and help in the past, no big deal.
As long as they survive