It would seem that Dr. Z (DaimlerChrysler Chairman Dieter Zetsche) isn’t having much effect on the car buying public of America. Even with the US auto industries insatiable habit of “employee-discount programs,” referred to by those in the know as "marketing crack," U.S. sales are down a dreadful 17% at Chrysler Group in July over last year. And, although the $225 million ad barrage featuring the “Dr Strangelove” of Detroit saturated the airwaves for weeks, it did little to lure prospective buyers. Not only were Viewers not moved by DaimlerChrysler Chairman Dieter Zetsche's emphasis on 'German engineering,' they overwhelmingly believed he was a fictional character. Maybe they got confused with the white coated Dr. Mengele character in CP+B’s dreadful VW commercials. In my opinion, it’s either time to call a moratorium on Gestapo like car salesmen, or dig up Peter Sellers.
In order to overcome the Chrysler sales deficiency we will need to employ lots of well endowed young ladies of child bearing age!
.jpg)
I am one of the idiots who believed the character was fictional, until I did a search on the name. He's not a bad actor, for a Chairman. (Witness the new Merck ads with the camera-scared Richard T. Clark, CEO.)
As for CPB's VW ads, using the sick guy from Minority Report and Constantine, I never thought of Mengele, but you're right. While I didn't run out and buy a VW, I did enjoy the spots.
Posted by: Jetpacks | August 1, 2006 7:23 AM | Permalink to Comment