Ford ad slams Chrysler, GM bailouts

[Lukeyson]

FORD is releasing a new ad that criticises the Obama Administration's rescue of Chrysler and General Motors, US News and World Report said overnight.
The ad is part of the "Drive One" campaign that features real drivers explaining why they chose to buy Ford vehicles.

In the ad, a driver identified only as "Chris" is asked why he was "buying American."

"I wasn't going to buy another car that was bailed out by our government," Chris said. "I was going to buy from a manufacturer that's standing on their own: win, lose or draw."

"That's what America is about is taking the chance to succeed and understanding when you fail that you got to pick yourself up and go back to work. Ford is that company for me," Chris added.

A Ford spokeswoman confirmed Chris was a real customer and that his words were unscripted, US News and World Report said.

Ford did not join Chrysler and GM in accepting the $80 billion in government rescue funds in 2009.

In June, the White House said taxpayers could lose roughly $14 billion of the bailout money.

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news...-1226139620194



http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=b_mwjaEI_hM

[Falc'man]

Not sure about this move.

[prydey]

if the 'chris' is a real person and the comments were unscripted, then i guess it means ford can't get in trouble from chrysler or gm or the govt. they are just televising customer feedback.

sounds ok to me.

[fordv8!]

Well said it's the truth isn't it?

[ebxr8240]

About time they started fighting back..
Playing from front foot for a change..
May sound anti Obama gov ??

[nstg8a]

i don't like it. its all good to praise for ford for not accepting it, but to me, self praise, is no praise.

and if we are going to be honest about it, its not like ford has never accepted govt money before, just this time they didn't.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by Falc'man

Not sure about this move.

If i were an American Taxpayer id be MIGHTY annoyed that my Government (Sorry for the politicalness) bailed out one automotive manufacturer, let alone 2. I think is a right hook that is rightly deserved. Stick it to em.

[Brazen]

My first thought is 'why?' Ford did not have to say a single thing about the bailout, many articles I see in the US about Ford usually contains the words "... the only domestic car maker not to receive government bailout money". Plus most Americans were angry that private companies like GM and Chrysler got bailout money.

They didnt have to say a word about it, the public knows it and the media knows it. Ford earned a lot of respect by not kicking GM and Chrysler when they were down but in one foul swoop their moral highground has been thrown out the window.

I wonder if ads like this will come back to haunt Ford if they ever need government help.

Also why criticise the Obama administration? Isnt the US government one of the biggest buyers of cars in the world? Not sure I would want to p*** off my biggest customer.

[mik]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

i don't like it. its all good to praise for ford for not accepting it, but to me, self praise, is no praise.

and if we are going to be honest about it, its not like ford has never accepted govt money before, just this time they didn't.

no doubt they have all taken small incentives over the years, that is just business, but 80 billion is a lot of cabbage.

[sgt_doofey]

Have people watched the Greg and Samatha ones as well? They're not bagging GM and Chrysler.
The comments of one person can not necessarily be construed to be the opinion of a company. However, Ford decided to run with the ad, so, who knows!

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by sgt_doofey

Have people watched the Greg and Samatha ones as well? They're not bagging GM and Chrysler.
The comments of one person can not necessarily be construed to be the opinion of a company. However, Ford decided to run with the ad, so, who knows!

Well whilst Ford didnt script the ad, they may have chosen who got to be on the ad by what each customer had submitted as a script. I doubt that Chris made everything up on the spot, Ford would have known what he was going to say.

[GTP-03]

Talk to any average Aussie, most will tell you Ford is broke, the Falcon is not selling, there are more Holden v8s than Ford v8s racing and Holden sell more cars, so why shouldnt Ford let people know about the truth even if it is scripted or American? Most people that buy new cars dont have a clue.

[No.6]

sure, this commercial might not make sense in our aussie culture or political climate, but perhaps its a well suited ad to whats happening over in america. Perhaps there is sentiment or resentment amongst the populace about gov hand outs? I think its a pretty cheeky ad on fords behalf. Maybe they should start focusing the ads on why their cars are better than whatever?

I remember seeing an ad that mitsubishi or toyota did a few years back that was cheeky towards holden and ford...and this was right after the government changed advertising laws allowing companies to actually directly compare to another in their ads.

[fou_bleu]

Originally Posted by Brazen

My first thought is 'why?' Ford did not have to say a single thing about the bailout, many articles I see in the US about Ford usually contains the words "... the only domestic car maker not to receive government bailout money". Plus most Americans were angry that private companies like GM and Chrysler got bailout money.

They didnt have to say a word about it, the public knows it and the media knows it. Ford earned a lot of respect by not kicking GM and Chrysler when they were down but in one foul swoop their moral highground has been thrown out the window.

I wonder if ads like this will come back to haunt Ford if they ever need government help.

Also why criticise the Obama administration? Isnt the US government one of the biggest buyers of cars in the world? Not sure I would want to p*** off my biggest customer.

I agree, let's hope this is the last of any references to the bailout from Ford! Perhaps, though, Ford was aiming for the more 'stable company = better cars' ideology?

[jpd80]

In fact, Alan Mulally and Ford strongly supported the bail out of GM and Chrysler
for fear that a failure of one or both would imperil the whole US industry and Ford.

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.

A risky gamble by Ford but one that will bring more sales as they put the issue
in front of US buyers who have memories like goldfish and the anger of a raging bull.

[MethodX]

Sad, when other countries helped their car industry, hell Japan has always helped with currency manipulation.
Some Necons playing economic theory again. if all the auto jobs collapsed they would be the fist ones screaming for the national guard for protection.

[Bundy]

Originally Posted by Brazen

Ford earned a lot of respect by not kicking GM and Chrysler when they were down but in one foul swoop their moral highground has been thrown out the window.

Nope I don't see it that way at all, I'm guessing heaps of others won't either.

[imugli]

I figure that they let the public create the impression initially and it's lasted this long until it's started to wane a little. Now, with a floor full of new Fiesta's, Focii, EcoBoost F150s etc, Ford figure it's time to just remind people a little and ride it a little longer.

Not by explicitly saying it themselves, but getting average Joe that everyone can relate to to do it.

If only Ford Oz marketing were that bright...

[FTE217]

In the age of political correctness Ford has let their opposition rub their nose's in it for years - as DJM83 said about time Ford got in with the right boot in their arrogant guts (GM importantly)......

[cartaa100]

haha great add!!

i must say that the falcon needs so more adds like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KC-lB...eature=related

[IDT]

The guy and the company are proud that Ford were managed well enough not to have to stick their hand out when all others had to. What on earth is wrong with that. People on this thread seem quick to label pride in ones own success as arrogance. Fords positon when the GFC hit was not one that was easily achieved. Good on them I say!

[MethodX]

Originally Posted by WAForce8

The guy and the company are proud that Ford were managed well enough not to have to stick their hand out when all others had to. What on earth is wrong with that. People on this thread seem quick to label pride in ones own success as arrogance. Fords positon when the GFC hit was not one that was easily achieved. Good on them I say!

Ford has taken help in the past, in the US and OS.

[SSD-85]

I personally love the ads.

And to all that dont like them, it could be worse, like not advertising at all..... (looks over at FoA)

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by MethodX

Ford has taken help in the past, in the US and OS.

In terms of grants and loans but they have never asked the US government to act as debtor in possession financing,
something GM and Chrysler were forced to do because no commercial banks would lend that level of funding
during the global financial crisis, even Ford Credit received short term lending from month to month to keep going.

What I'm trying to say is this:
GM needed $50 billion in financing and Chrysler was around 15 billion but survived with a non cash merger with Fiat.
In late 2005, Ford could see that they weer in trouble and took matters in hand proving that it is possible to achieve
just as much by refiniancing as GM did in bankruptcy court. GM sucker punched it investors by dividing the
company's assets into two and left the old GM in bankruptcy to get rid of most of its debt obligations and creditors.
Now that the new GM is profitable and cashed up, they feel no obligation to US taxpayers who are looking at a $15 billion loss
thanks to poor GM stock prices. This is outrageous and a lot of Americans are seething over GM inaction on this matter...

GM is like the drunk that's been cleaned up and given a full wallet of cash.....


An unscripted testimonial by a recent buyer is purely a reflection of community thinking.

"I wasn't going to buy another car that was bailed out by our government," Chris said. "I was going to buy from a manufacturer that's standing on their own: win, lose or draw."

"That's what America is about is taking the chance to succeed and understanding when you fail that you got to pick yourself up and go back to work. Ford is that company for me," Chris added.

A Ford spokeswoman confirmed Chris was a real customer and that his words were unscripted, US News and World Report said.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news...#ixzz1YFx6BRsv

[imugli]

I have to say I really don't understand this "Ford have taken help as well" line...

Have Ford accessed Government loans and subsidies that have been made available to ALL who apply for them, not just car makers? Yes, they have.

Have they taken advantage of funds made available by governments to all manufacturers to become "greener"? yes they have.

But this is different to billions upon billions of dollars of taxpayers money that has made the US government a large SHAREHOLDER in a private company which otherwise wouldn't be here today. That is a completely different thing.

Governments make all sorts of funding schemes available to all sorts of different sectors. Whether they should or not is another debate.

Ford DID NOT accept bailout funds. Ford DID NOT take taxpayers money in return for a share of the company.

They went it alone before the ***** really hit the fan, took the risk and put everything on the line, backed themselves and have come out the other side shining. Whether Ford ever paid that mortgage back or had the bankers come in and liquidate everything was comepletely in their own control. They are well within their rights to let the people know that.

[jpd80]

Ford has just paid off another $1.8 billion their total debt is now down to $12 billion,
so with world wide revenue of $140 billion, that is an acceptable debt level.

In the last two years, Ford has paid off $22 billion in debt, made $14 billion profit
and delivered massive upgrades in it world wide product line up - that speaks volumes.

Ford Credit still has around $120 billion in customer based debt that is indexed and guaranteed income,
they could sell off some of that debt any time they wanted and pay down the rest of their debt.
I don't think they will because having some debt in business is good for balancing the books.

[The G6ET Spot]

I think the ads are great and reflect what a lot of the public in the US actually think.

IMO the meraketing department in the US should come over here and educate FoA so called marketing.

[MethodX]

Originally Posted by The G6ET Spot

I think the ads are great and reflect what a lot of the public in the US actually think.

IMO the meraketing department in the US should come over here and educate FoA so called marketing.

Do we really need or want ads playing to a teaparty and neocon base in Aus?
No for me.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by MethodX

Do we really need or want ads playing to a teaparty and neocon base in Aus?
No for me.

Do you really think most Aussies know or even car what Tea party or Neocon stand for?

[vztrt]

I don't really like this ad. It could bite them in the rear.

Also if the situation in the US got worse then Ford would have been getting government money as well as the funding was ready to go.