Big 3 Use 'Made In The USA' on Ads.

[nsap]

If record discounts on new cars and trucks aren’t enough to lure buyers into dealer showrooms, maybe Old Glory will provide the extra nudge.

Several automakers, both domestic and foreign, are draping themselves in red, white and blue with advertising campaigns and corporate messages to trumpet their commitment to building vehicles in America and hiring U.S. workers.

Foreign companies are clearly targeting customers who might consider their cars and trucks, but feel an obligation to buy American. And traditional domestic automakers are firing back to make sure foreign manufacturers don’t get all the credit for building vehicles in the United States.

“A lot of foreign competitors are coming into the country and touting their investments and the things they’ve done, but they pale in comparison in terms of what we do every single day,” GM spokesman Gary Grates said.

Japan-based Toyota Motor Co.p. and Honda Motor Co. recently launched marketing campaigns to tell U.S. consumers that many of their models are built in a growing number of U.S. factories popping up throughout the South.

Now, DaimlerChrysler AG’s Chrysler Group, eager to show it’s American side despite the 1998 takeover by Germany’s Daimler-Benz, is touting its commitment to the United States. In an August report called “Invested in America,” Auburn Hills-based Chrysler catalogs its U.S. presence, including its 76,000 U.S. employees and $2.4 billion investment in U.S. factories last year.

“We may not be American pie anymore,” said Jason Vines, Chrysler’s vice president of communications. “We’re part pie and part strudel. But we are proud of our deep roots in America and our investment in America.”

Analysts say the Made in America campaigns may not pay off in a flurry of sales, but could improve brand image over time.

Chrysler, has begun sprinkling executive speeches with its annual U.S. payroll figures, pension payouts and charitable contributions.

Chrysler, which includes the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge brands, has placed particular emphasis on its U.S. investments this year as it launches nine new vehicles and upgrades plants.

Still, only about 15 percent of DaimlerChrysler’s shareholders are American, down from 25 percent in 1998.

DaimlerChrysler, Ford and GM still build 75 percent of the cars and trucks made in America, and employ almost 90 percent of all American auto workers, according to the Chrysler report.

But Big Three market share and employment are declining, while Japanese automakers are increasing U.S. sales and payroll.

This summer, Toyota launched a national advertising campaign to spotlight its U.S. investments, which include eight U.S. factories and $12 billion in spending since 1957. One print ad in the series includes a picture of a Toyota sign in a pasture outside San Antonio, which will soon be home to a new $800 million truck plant. The caption reads, “We’re not just breaking new ground with our vehicles.”

The idea of the $10 million campaign was to remind U.S. consumers that while Toyota is headquartered in Japan, many of its most popular models, including the Camry and Sienna, are built in the United States, said Dennis Cuneo, senior vice president of Toyota’s North American arm.

“We ran some focus groups to test our image, and generally, people had a very positive image of Toyota. But they weren’t so aware of our economic impact,” Cuneo said. “Once they were aware, their rating of us went up further. So it does make a difference among some audiences.”

Honda is celebrating its 25th year of manufacturing in the United States with regional ads praising its homegrown workforce and reminding the media and government officials of the automaker’s rapid growth here. It produces the Accord and Civic, among other models, in the United States.

“We’re not trying to hit anybody over the head with any message,” said Ed Miller, a Honda spokesman. “We’re just trying to put the numbers out there.”

But Detroit auto officials have charged that some foreign automakers are simply draping themselves in the American flag to get into the good graces of U.S. car buyers.

“What (foreign automakers are) doing in terms of trying to become more American is interesting,” GM’s Grates said. “But quite frankly, that’s more of a marketing slogan than the reality.”

Bob Taylor, who leads auto research firm Capgemini’s customer relationship practice in Atlanta, said a pro-America message may not do much to sway car buyers anyway.

“The net of it here is that consumers don’t have visibility into the supply chain and don’t have a knowledge of what’s American and what’s not,” Taylor said.

Increasingly, Americans buy cars based on quality, not their country of origin, he said. That is why high-quality nameplates such as Honda and Toyota have fared so well, and have slowly eaten away at the Big Three’s dominance of the U.S. auto market.

Japan’s Nissan Motor Co. had a marketing campaign several years ago, highlighting its U.S. presence, but has found more success with simple product-themed ads, said company spokesman Fred Standish.

Citing double-digit sales gains this year, Standish said “people are obviously buying our cars, whether they’re made in Japan or Mexico or the United States.”

Neither GM nor Ford is planning campaigns to highlight its U.S. investments. For GM, the messages are already a daily part of company communications, Grates said.

Article Here

[dindak]

Made in the USA can't hurt, but it won't help much. People these days seem to not care where things are made or who they hurt by buying cars from off shore makers. Everything is made in China these days and factories are shutting down every month here.

I always try at least to buy things made in North America. If GM was so bad I would buy a Honda, but my last 3 vehicles are all GM and have all been excellent.

[nsap]

Originally posted by dindak@Sep 28 2004, 06:46 AM
Made in the USA can't hurt, but it won't help much. People these days seem to not care where things are made or who they hurt by buying cars from off shore makers. Everything is made in China these days and factories are shutting down every month here.

I always try at least to buy things made in North America. If GM was so bad I would buy a Honda, but my last 3 vehicles are all GM and have all been excellent.

Yeah..It seems that we don't have a choice to buy american or foreign in most things..

[Buick61]

I like good cars. I try not to discriminate based on the location of the companies' headquarters when judging a new car. However, in my own personal buying habits, I only purchase domestic branded vehicles. Dumb pride, perhaps.

After 9/11, I saw American flags flying off the back of Accords, Maximas, Acuras, etc. I thought that was contradictory at the time. I realize now that the U.S. is all about freedom of choice, and many people choose to buy a car with a foreign brand. When you spend that much on something, you better choose it for the right reasons, and not because some consider it the right thing to do.

Besides, in this age of globalization, the lines are seriously getting blurred. Not all the money you spend on your new Malibu stays in the U.S. It goes into GM's piggy bank. Then it's spent on R&D in Germany, on a new South Korean factory, on workers in Canada, on parts suppliers from Mexico and Japan, and on a new dealer base in China.

Those factors can't be changed, and the trend will continue. Don't like it? Understandable. Solution? Build your own car.

[bigplayrayr]

People do not realize how many others depend on domestic manufacturer business.
Just because one doesn't work for the big 3, doesn't mean they are not in the auto industry.

[gmsickofan]

3rd world countries with no manufacturing buy Toyota or Nissan pickups without a hint of guilt or worry they are destroying their own engineering or manufacturing base.

Americans who buy from companies that only set up a factory here and there but take billions back home to their own engineers --- they would rather see the US like a 3rd world country or a European country with nothing to sell but tourism.

Or they just don't care. And in that case, they might as well settle for their town becoming.....Toyotaville! Work on the line for the man at Toyota! :lol:

[zaxxis]

Originally posted by Buick61@Sep 28 2004, 01:01 PM
I like good cars.  I try not to descriminate based on the location of the companies' headquarters when judging a new car.  However, in my own personal buying habits, I only purchase domestic branded vehicles.  Dumb pride, perhaps. 

After 9/11, I saw American flags flying off the back of Accords, Maximas, Acuras, etc.  I thought that was contradictory at the time.  I realize now that the U.S. is all about freedom of choice, and many people choose to buy a car with a foreign brand.  When you spend that much on something, you better choose it for the right reasons, and not because some consider it the right thing to do.

Besides, in this age of globalization, the lines are seriously getting blurred.  Not all the money you spend on your new Malibu stays in the U.S.  It goes into GM's piggy bank.  Then it's spent on R&D in Germany, on a new South Korean factory, on workers in Canada, on  parts suppliers from Mexico and Japan, and on a new dealer base in China.

Those factors can't be changed, and the trend will continue.  Don't like it?  Understandable.  Solution?  Build your own car.

I totally agree. Personally I think the "Buy America" advertising is a sham, since stuff is made in all parts of the globe. If it's made of plastic, it usually leads back to a oil barrel in Russia or the Middle East.

The other thing that ticks me off is while companies are eager to urge people to buy american, they don't support the american people. If there is a hint they will save a penny by moving a factory to another town thanks to tax savins, they will. While some union people are overpaid [unions are way to powerful now], a company will squeeze every dime out of it's employees with no regard or loyality to those people.

The biggest crock is when companies :cough:WAL-MART:cough: push buy american and then after their sales sky rocket, replace all the products with cheap versions made in 3rd world companies.

I'm an American, but it's my money and I will buy the best product with it and not throw it a company, US or otherwise, that won't make a quality product. In 2000, I was trying to find a good sporty car, 20-30k range. Ford and GM didn't have what I wanted (Too old, or being phased out) so I went with an Eclipse. When I get a new car next year, I'm certain it will be a GM or Ford product because they now have what I want.

-Z

[gmsickofan]

I want the car that gives me the best bang for the buck, but when given a pretty equal choice mechanically, and a usually better price, I tend to choos the Domestic.

Glad GM is finally introducing a Pontiac with a V6 and a stick shift - maybe I'll buy a G6 GTP (GXP?) next year with my Montana SV6.

[Jay]

Interesting observation, and somebody tell me if you disagree, but...

I have noticed that there seems to be a greater proportion of 'foreign'-branded cars (i.e. Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi) in the U.S. than in Canada where 'domestic'-branded cars seem to far outnumber foreigners. And if you look at the sales numbers the big sellers in the U.S. are the Camrys and Accords whereas in Canada the big sellers are Caravans, Cavaliers, and Neons. Any idea why this is? Sometimes I think maybe it's because we're just cheap or over-taxed or for some reason just can't afford more expensive cars.

[MaxLegroom]

So far, I've only bought one new car, anyway, and it was American built. It was that damned Escort.

Americans who buy from companies that only set up a factory here and there but take billions back home to their own engineers --- they would rather see the US like a 3rd world country or a European country with nothing to sell but tourism.

However, this is also quite untrue. Most of these people never think about that particular matter until their children, who have just graduated from college at considerable expense, need a job. To believe otherwise would be insane, wouldn't it? Do you really think that turning this into a third world country is intentional? It's just that they won't see it until it is too late, and we are back to having shanty towns on the mall in D. C., like existed during the Great Depression.

What I do find dismaying is this: The Japanese can build a car without us completely. As an example, the Prius contains no parts made here whatsoever. However, we, for some reason, are unable to build a car with a 100 percent U. S. parts content. I looked on dealers lots, GM, Ford, Chrysler, and the best I found was about 90 percent. That new Malibu was at 87 percent. The Corvette I saw was a surprise: the All-American sports car had a 77 percent domestic content! Was I looking on the wrong lots? In these days where we run the risk of becoming more isolated politically in the world, this seems a dangerous course. We should be able to do all of it ourselves. This is a rehash of comments I've made before, partly as reminder, but, also, partly because this doesn't seem to go away.

If I find myself ready to buy a new car again, I will be looking at what GM or Ford have to offer first, because I'm not crazy about that whole Daimler Chrysler thing. Not buying a Toyota, however, is not just a politlcal matter, though. Their cars just don't interest me very much anyway, nor do most Hondas. However, the usual rule applies, still. If what I'm looking doesn't at least do it like my current car does (shock you, electrify and rock you, as Melissa Etheridge put it), I won't buy it.

[New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66]

This is one reason I am becoming cynical. Toyota and Honda are American companies? C'mon. Just like that American flag draped BMW I keep seeing in traffic?

<_<

[dindak]

The big 3 do have a bigger MKT share in Canada vs the US. Small advantage could be because U.S. based makes are generally a better value and since we have a higher taxes here perhaps we are more value oriented?

I don't know..

I do think it's sad when people I know say they won't even look at a GM or a Ford even though the product may be good. Much of the wealth of the U.S. and Canada comes from manufacturing yet our own product is not even worth a fair look.
.

[Hudson]

Originally posted by nsap@Sep 28 2004, 07:09 AM
DaimlerChrysler, Ford and GM still build 75 percent of the cars and trucks made in America, and employ almost 90 percent of all American auto workers, according to the Chrysler report.

The Big 3 (even if you count Mercedes-Benz) haven't made up 75% of North American production in years. They are probably referring to US production, which Automotive News states the Big 3 have produced 70.2% of vehicles so far this year.

[Hudson]

Originally posted by gmsickofan@Sep 28 2004, 09:00 AM
3rd world countries with no manufacturing buy Toyota or Nissan pickups without a hint of guilt or worry they are destroying their own engineering or manufacturing base.

Americans who buy from companies that only set up a factory here and there but take billions back home to their own engineers --- they would rather see the US like a 3rd world country or a European country with nothing to sell but tourism.

Or they just don't care. And in that case, they might as well settle for their town becoming.....Toyotaville! Work on the line for the man at Toyota! :lol:

I agreed with your later point, because I buy whatever best fits my budget and preference, no matter where it's built.

But here you say that there are Americans who "buy from companies that only set up a factory here and there but take billions back home to their own engineers." Name one. All of the major companies building vehicles in North America have designers, engineers, and R&D facilities here as well. Many of them have multiple locations, on US soil, for R&D and engineering. There are even companies designing vehicles in North America who do NOT have factories here.

Most of the money made from producing vehicles in North America stays in North America.

[Butz]

Originally posted by Buick61@Sep 28 2004, 01:01 PM
I like good cars. I try not to discriminate based on the location of the companies' headquarters when judging a new car. However, in my own personal buying habits, I only purchase domestic branded vehicles. Dumb pride, perhaps.

After 9/11, I saw American flags flying off the back of Accords, Maximas, Acuras, etc. I thought that was contradictory at the time. I realize now that the U.S. is all about freedom of choice, and many people choose to buy a car with a foreign brand. When you spend that much on something, you better choose it for the right reasons, and not because some consider it the right thing to do.

Besides, in this age of globalization, the lines are seriously getting blurred. Not all the money you spend on your new Malibu stays in the U.S. It goes into GM's piggy bank. Then it's spent on R&D in Germany, on a new South Korean factory, on workers in Canada, on parts suppliers from Mexico and Japan, and on a new dealer base in China.

Those factors can't be changed, and the trend will continue. Don't like it? Understandable. Solution? Build your own car.

Yup that what makes America, America!!! B)

The Freedom of Choice..

We are not talking about a Communist regieme that doesn't allow foriegn products.. We are talking about America where you can get virtually everything..