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Chrysler infuriated by Smart car ad

06/22/2006, 2:26 PM

By admin

The Chrysler Group — the American wing of the DaimlerChrysler organization — was not too happy when images began circulating on the Internet of a billboard on South Africa for DaimlerChrysler’s Smart ForFour. The ad showed a polished studio image of the ForFour, with the words, “German engineering. Swiss innovation. American nothing.” Chrysler Group PR man Jason Vines said in a statement to the press today that the billboards are now “in some landfill in South Africa.” He also recalled one of Lee Iacocca’s famous idioms, saying the billboards “went beyond dumb and all the way to stupid.” The ad agency insists it meant no harm in creating the ads.

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06/22, 2:28 PM

posted by:

Thing2

sadly the truth hurts…

06/22, 2:30 PM

posted by:

British_rover

Ouch but also funny.

06/22, 2:34 PM

posted by:

prolapsed momma

haha

lest see an african build a car

06/22, 2:35 PM

posted by:

prolapsed momma

*lets

06/22, 2:40 PM

posted by:

ss

good ad. do they even sell chrysler is south africa? why should they even care.

06/22, 2:45 PM

posted by:

BAMF

If they are advertising there, I would guess they do. But I’m no expert…

But its pretty funny though, even if it was a really bad, really offensive idea.

06/22, 2:55 PM

posted by:

Yozzie

BMW, Audi, VW, Mercedes, Ford, Toyota and Opel all build cars in South Africa, and export a lot fo them too.

06/22, 2:56 PM

posted by:

gsh

haha awesome

06/22, 3:04 PM

posted by:

1c3d0g

I’d really like to know which ad agency it was, so that it won’t stay in business much longer… >:|

06/22, 3:06 PM

posted by:

ss

BAMF – Thats a SMART ad, not a Chrysler ad
1c3d0g- its ok to laugh at yourself once and awhile. dont take it so seriously.

that is a great ad. it did exsactly what it was ment to do. im sure many of you will remember that for a while. maybe even tell a few friends. Smart is getting there brand out there.

06/22, 3:12 PM

posted by:

VDub

hahaha! damn that is funny. makes me want to buy a smart car even more now.

06/22, 3:13 PM

posted by:

Heydn

It’s nice to see how much autonomy companies have within DaimlerChrysler.

06/22, 3:16 PM

posted by:

Dav

haha what a great add. why doesnt the U.S. have adds like that? and why doesnt the U.S. have more smarts? they really are good as a runabout in the city if your not in a hurry.

06/22, 3:31 PM

posted by:

2006300C

As an American, am I offended by anything the rest of the world says, or by the add campaign of a severely financially distressed DC division that sells overpriced Lupos and Micras to europissons with more money than driving talent? ummmmmmmm…… no.

06/22, 3:34 PM

posted by:

que

I’m American and don’t care for the advert, but so what? I’m sure that by not having any connection to the US, it will appeal to some and there’s nothing wrong with that. So why not market to them? If there’s nothing American about it, no reason to keep it a secret.

Now, having said that, I wouldn’t mind seeing:
American engineering
American innovation
EU, Japanese, Korean and Chinese nothing

06/22, 4:12 PM

posted by:

moron

you idiot, the Noble is an South African car, go look it up and wipe the drool off your chin.

06/22, 4:21 PM

posted by:

2006300C

Noble is British. Where a car is made and who owns it is not important. Aston martin is owned by ford but that car is in no way an American auto.

06/22, 4:54 PM

posted by:

JMa

Bottom line is that advertisers will pick a demographic to target and try to appeal to their beliefs/views… regardless if they are founded on reality/fact.

Founded or unfounded, there are a lot of people out there who think US cars are crap and/or don’t agree with the current US government and some significant descisions they have made.

I am sure that people who believe that, would find this advertising appealing and attractive.

Also, maybe the reason they are pulling down the ads isn’t really PR, but rather because the “for four” is being discountinued.

06/22, 5:39 PM

posted by:

Ahk-Med

“Noble is British. Where a car is made and who owns it is not important. Aston martin is owned by ford but that car is in no way an American auto.”

That is what is known as “denial”.

06/22, 6:14 PM

posted by:

SmokingGun

German Engineering
Swedish Design
American Nothing

SMART not to mention: “French Built”

06/22, 6:34 PM

posted by:

mdc

#5, just in case you are wondering, yes, Chrysler does sell in South Africa.

06/22, 6:39 PM

posted by:

2006300C

Dear Ahk-Med,
I’m not British numb nuts. Aston Martin made be owned by Ford buts it’s soul and engineering and design philosophy is pure limey.

06/22, 6:40 PM

posted by:

2006300C

may not made.

06/22, 6:42 PM

posted by:

Franz Steinleitner

No 20. Your logic is flawed. When GM owned Lotus it was an American manufacturer but when it was sold to Proton it became a Malaysian car constructor? Not so. It was always a British operation.

Africans, and by Africans I mean Congoids, build nothing.

06/22, 8:15 PM

posted by:

Merger of Equals?

Now we know why Smart has been the epitome of success!

06/22, 10:48 PM

posted by:

America Sucks

Americans need to know how to laugh at themselves. They like to make fun of everyone else but scream bloody murder when anyones says something true about America. Grow up and grow a skin.

06/23, 3:00 AM

posted by:

Here you go...

ss: DaimlerChrysler owns Smart… That is why Chrysler cares…

06/23, 3:03 AM

posted by:

Steve

If it helps Smart sell cars in South Africa, who cares?

06/23, 3:44 AM

posted by:

Craig

…but it is the truth. I’d be slightly more inclined to buy a Smart after seeing an ad like that. “American Nothing” suggests to me that they reject bad quality designs and boring visual cues and lackluster performance and gas mileage.

Hooray for Smart. Buck up and build some better cars, Chrysler!

06/23, 7:02 AM

posted by:

canut4ever

Chrysler executives must be red-faced with this ad LOL. Think they were boasting that Chrysler cars are so proud that they were “German Engineered” and now this….LoL…

06/23, 7:26 AM

posted by:

Veda

After spending half my life in US, yea they’re immature bastards…

06/23, 9:28 AM

posted by:

1c3d0g

ss: why should I laugh at myself? Is there something you want to share with the rest of us? :-/

06/23, 9:54 AM

posted by:

Madcapp

Since the 300C is an American design done by a black guy, DCX could put up billboards touting it as “Afro Engineering”

06/23, 10:57 AM

posted by:

Donfuy

Chrysler is furious because of THAT?? That’s a little car in AFRICA. What does it matters??????

06/23, 11:19 AM

posted by:

Piablo

Ummm, I’m not sure if a few of you get why Chrysler was upset… It has nothing to do with patriotism or America. It has everything to do with cutting of the nose to spite the face. Would you ever see an ad from sayyy Pontiac bashing Chevrolet? No, because they play for the same team. So why would Daimler spite Chrysler to promote another arm of the company?

Dumb ad.

06/23, 6:17 PM

posted by:

kpz

ditto to #26

So what if it sez its not american? big deal, the ad got ur attention didnt it?

06/23, 9:48 PM

posted by:

dan

I think that ad might have actually sold cars, which is sad, but is there anything better than making money and finding prosperity by taking advantage of your detractors/those who would happily see you in ruin? If smart sells more cars in s.Africa, DCX, the whole corporation will be better off, so why not pander to these people. Aren’t they more likely to buy a smart than a chrysler? Aren’t these the same people who believe there’s absolutely no tie between mitsubishi, mercedes, chrysler, and smart?

06/23, 11:39 PM

posted by:

Kevin

German Engineering: Responsible for the stunning arrogance and resulting crash in the quality reputation of Daimler’s Mercedes product here in the U.S.

Swiss Innovation: Now that’s a powerful mind changer!

American Nothing: Reason for the developing market share crash and inventory glut the Chrysler Group is experiencing here in the United States.

Guess it really shows Daimler’s true blue principles and business plan. They should run the ad in the U.S.!

06/23, 11:59 PM

posted by:

digitalzombie

I am an American and I drink beer and have an NRA card. I don’t like it when they make fun of us redneck.

Naw, I’m joking. I really don’t care if they make fun of America. It’s down the crap shoot right now and I really don’t care about chrysler –they make a lot of stupid cars (some are noteworthy). I think it’s a great ad though.

07/01, 2:09 PM

posted by:

Matthew

What a bunch of piss ants. If I was Chrysler I’d chew that ad agency up and spit it out for the Hyena’s to eat.

07/09, 5:50 PM

posted by:

eddie elric

lmao….. thats funny

07/31, 8:30 AM

posted by:

vinnie

can South Africans read?

07/31, 9:41 AM

posted by:

Swank60

Why do you hate America?

07/31, 10:03 AM

posted by:

FJCOG

Once TUT finds out about this, they will innundate this msg board with drivel.

07/31, 10:03 AM

posted by:

Rugster

Where can I buy one?

07/31, 10:07 AM

posted by:

yooper

Bourbon comes in a can there?!?! Is it straight bourbon, or mixed with something ready to drink?

We need a pic of that!

07/31, 10:10 AM

posted by:

toynado

wut iz wr0ng wit yu stOOpid peeple?

07/31, 1:39 PM

posted by:

PHAT MAX

I tried to destroy TUT and its one head turned into a hydra storm…don’t mess with TUT!

08/12, 8:50 AM

posted by:

T Lawrence

I am a small business owner & even I know not to slam one of my clients in an ad. Yes American (people) are clients of Chrysler. Today it is a tiny world and what you say in one remote corner will come back to haunt you. It was an anti-American ad and was meant to be an anti-American ad. There is no other spin can logically put on it. Do not put the blame on an Ad Agency…that ad was approved by Daimler-Chrysler people.

I’ve owned Chrysler cars for 36 out of the last 44 years. I plan to buy a new car before the end of the year & this time it will not be a Chrysler product. When you insult a client, they will typically take their business elsewhere. It is nothing personal Chrysler…just business. When you s*&^ in your own mess kit, guess how your next meal is going to taste.

Honda reliability
GMC styling
Chrysler nothing

12/13, 9:51 PM

posted by:

Cookiemonster

admit it the Africans hate Jeep’s too. Can’t blame them, all hail TUT.

 
 
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