Why Is Automotive News Jumping On The Audi USA CMO For Telling It Like It Is?

Why Is Automotive News Jumping On The Audi USA CMO For Telling It Like It Is?
Audi just seems to be getting itself into all sorts of "he said, she said," misquotes and jumped all over by the automotive press as of late.

The U.S.'s CMO, Scott Keogh, was speaking about innovative marketing and how it has helped Audi in one of the worst years for auto sales in over 20 years. Of course it was not an issue when Keogh addressed Audi's tactics, but when he began speaking about how the automotive industry got there, some eyebrows were raised.

Essentially, Keogh's main point was that in the middle of the 20th century, the automotive industry was IT. Then, Keogh said it lost its way and the "industry drove itself into this mess."

He continued on by saying that many marketing campaigns became repetitive and predictable. Keogh said traditionally, vehicles were marketed like this: car on the road, point out some piece of technology, tell consumers how cheap your product is, convince the buyer to get to a dealer where they can get it cheaper and hope buyers love your brand.

Keogh pointed out "...after 20 years, [this strategy] really starts to erode away the romance, nostalgia and the ideals of the automotive business."

Automotive News has taken this as an attack on the domestic manufacturers but what do you think is really going on here?

The Spies are siding with Keogh because he is right.

And by Automotive News making something that it is not, clearly shows how out of touch it is.

Click "read article" to watch the video.

Weigh in and let us know in the comments below!


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Read Article

bmwdrvrbmwdrvr - 1/5/2010 10:12:49 PM
-6 Boost
Yeah he would rather have his cars bland instead of the marketing(which is just as dated and unoriginal)


VISOVISO - 1/6/2010 5:29:40 PM
-1 Boost
And BMW's marketing so innovative with the little bow flying off the roof. Or doing wheelies in the desert. Wow! Innovative at its max! Get real fanboy.


tattedtwicetattedtwice - 1/6/2010 12:25:18 AM
-1 Boost
This arrogant company, with their arrogant mouthpieces, gets on my nerves. He cant talk about ANY company's marketing, when their lame tactic is nothing more than to poke fun at other companies. Considering every company they try to make fun of easily outsells them even in a BAD mouth, he may want to STFU.


tattedtwicetattedtwice - 1/6/2010 12:27:42 AM
0 Boost
Edit: make that bad MONTH.


VISOVISO - 1/6/2010 5:28:29 PM
0 Boost
Better look in the mirror. You surely must be speaking of BMW for the last 20 years or so. Don't be a hypocrit. BMW rules when it comes to arrogance overhype of its cars.


JustaCarJustaCar - 1/6/2010 11:03:40 AM
+5 Boost
Another flame war in the making. The only "he said she said" is happening on Autospies. If any one would watch the video, it is clear that Automotive News is not "jumping on Audi" and Scott Keogh does not once mention US automakers in the video. He is discussing the automtive industry in general. His comments could apply to several Japanese automakers as well as US automakers.


THESCOOTERTHESCOOTER - 1/6/2010 11:21:29 AM
+2 Boost
Touche! Very well said JustaCar. I think his comments are a reflection on the safe and standard types of advertising that have become so pervasive for all manufacturers. There is very little willingness to take risk since budgets have been slashed we see auto makers going back to the well for the most part. Audi is certainly offering refreshing creative and has been on a roll with their TV specifically. Auto News may be simply a little too sensitive and I do not think he was bashing anyone specifically at all. Ford F-150 stuff is great and breaks from convention, while on the other hand, how many GM vehicles can Howie Long actually drive?


Agent00RAgent00R - 1/6/2010 1:49:09 PM
+2 Boost
@Justacar

So the headlines from AutoNews that say the CMO is wagging a finger at US automakers is not misleading?

Pretty sure it is when we BOTH agree that Keogh was speaking about the automotive industry AS A WHOLE.


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