Now Chrysler SLAMS New York Times Friedman!

This just went live on Chrysler's internal PR blog...

From Jason Vines, Vice President Chrysler Group Communications:

I had a funny game show dream last night. Mind if I share it with you?

Host: Good evening! We have five categories for tonight’s game, they are:
The Auto Industry
Newspaper scandals
Libel
Famous know- it -alls
And of course, Potpourri.

Before we get started, let’s meet our three contestants

First, our returning champion, Thomas Friedman, a best selling author and New York Times columnist.

Our two challengers are Betty Newman, a single mother of three from Melvindale, Michigan who just completed her GED. Good job Betty! Welcome to the show.

And Emile Schmenkie, a retiree from Chicago, Illinois, who’s described by his wife as a half wit.

Good luck Emile.

Thomas, as our returning champion, you pick the first category.

Thomas: I’d like the The Auto Industry for $100.
Host: And the answer is: this auto company invented the automobile, the SUV and the minivan. Thomas?
Thomas: Who is Toyota?
Host: Ooo, surry Thomas, that’s not right. Betty?
Betty: What is DaimlerChrysler?
Host: That’s right! DaimlerChrysler’s Mercedes-Benz division invented the automobile, Jeep invented the SUV, and Chrysler invented the minivan. Boy, Betty you DO know your auto industry. Continue.
Betty: I’ll take The Auto Industry for $200.
Host: And the answer is, this company invented the catalytic converter, considered by many to be the greatest anti- pollution device ever. Thomas?
Thomas: Who is Toyota?
Host: No, surry. Emile?
Emile: Honda.
Host: Emile, in the form of a question.
Emile: Honda??
Host: No, surry. Betty?
Betty: Who is General Motors?
Host: Correct, General Motors! Betty, continue.
Betty: I’d like The Auto Industry for $300.
Host: And the answer is, this company invented electronic stability program, or ESP,
a safety device already saving lives. Thomas?
Thomas: Who is Toyota?
Host: No..surry. Emile?
Emile: Uh uh uh uh, hmmm.. uh…
Host: Surry, Emile You are a half- wit. Betty?
Betty: Who is DaimlerChrysler?
Host: Correct! DaimlerChrysler’s Mercedes-Benz invented this life saver in the mid 1990’s and it's available on many Mercedes and Chrysler Group products around the world. Betty, you’re on a roll continue.
Betty: I’d like The Auto Industry for $400.
Host: And the answer is, of the top six automakers in the United States, this company has seen its CO2 emissions increase by the greatest percentage over the last five years. Thomas?.
Thomas: Who is General Motors, dammit!
Host: Noooo..Surry. Emile?
Emile: Who is Ford?
Host: No, surry. Betty?
Betty: Who is Nissan?
Host: Correct!.
Well….you heard that buzzer…….

Then I woke up.

PlanoA4 - 6/15/2006 3:43:41 PM

+1 Boost

Sounds like a japanese slam in there somewhere.

dblo7 - 6/15/2006 4:32:37 PM

+1 Boost

I hope GM is able to nail his ass for being defamatory, making unsupported claims in a major newspaper, and not recalling his ludicrous statements. NYT of all papers should not constantly stoop this low to get press.

mkaresh - 6/15/2006 5:05:55 PM

+1 Boost

Interesting that it includes one plug for GM and two for DCX. So it's DCX PR masquerading as a defense of GM? What does this guy do for a living? Oh...

SteveL - 6/15/2006 5:53:46 PM

+1 Boost

Thats awsome. I bet you thousands off people do not know this info. Especialy that idiot Friedman.

Steve - 6/15/2006 10:59:47 PM

+1 Boost

I lost interest in the few few lines. Did I miss anything interesting?

Steve - 6/15/2006 10:59:47 PM

+1 Boost

I lost interest in the few few lines. Did I miss anything interesting?

MercBasher - 6/15/2006 11:49:23 PM

+1 Boost

Jason Vines may be a stupid backward looking idiot who epitomizes what is wrong with the leadership opinions within US brands.

Let’s look at his specific points.

(1.) DCX companies invented the automobile, the SUV and the minivan – this is all backward looking ancient history. We could just as easily focus on which company required one of the biggest Government bail-outs in history? – answer Chrysler

(2.) DCX invented ESP – yes this is good, but is it enough? We could have asked this question: which company that claims technological leadership has (a.) no hybrid technology (b.) relatively fuel inefficient small vehicles, and (c.) suffered an extraordinary decline in reliability early in this decade – answers (a.) Mercedes, Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep (b.) Dodge and Jeep (c.) Mercedes

(3.) Nissan has seen the highest increase in average C02 emissions – well DUH, Nissan has been adding trucks to its portfolio. We should have asked which brands have the highest average fleet emissions? – I don’t know the answer but my favorites, if I were betting, include Dodge and Jeep with their high proportion of trucks.

I find it disappointing that, with all the resources that DCX has, it can’t find a better series of arguments than those put forward by Jason Vines. The arguments aren’t going to get many folks to cancel orders for Toyota or Nissan products in favor of a Dodge, Jeep or Chrysler. Similarly they aren’t going to impress the average reader of AutoSpies either.

MercBasher - 6/15/2006 11:57:12 PM

+1 Boost

I have one other question suggestion for Mr Vines. Which group of American brands with a long and illustrious history was outsold in May 2006 by a Japanese auto company who only started importing into the US in the second half of the twentieth century? - Hint (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep).

dblo7 - 6/16/2006 1:06:08 AM

+1 Boost

Well DCX is working with BMW and GM to create a hybrid system to rival Toyota to go into production next year. So YES DCX has Hybrid tech. This will on average make all of GMs Large SUVs fitted with this hybrid tech 25% more efficient...even the Escalade.

DCX can do better with MPG, but then again MB is not in the econo car segment.

Chrysler MPG:
300 Base Model - 21/28MPG
Caliber Base - 28/32MPG
Nitro Base - 18/23MPG
Durango Base - 16/21MPG

So I guess that is a big difference compared to Toyota...lol. OK.

Chrysler even when saved by Lee Iacocca was pretty damn boring. The managment had their collective heads up their collective asses and settled with selling one of the Big 3 to Daimler. The Late model Ram and Viper did help the turn around, but unfortuantely it took a foreign automaker 'MB' to make Chrysler a player. Daimler became the best thing to hit Chrysler. Too bad they could not do it on their own and I am glad that Chrysler execs got shafted by Daimler...defintely deserved it!

dblo7 - 6/16/2006 2:30:26 PM

+1 Boost

Nice Sean...lol. And thank you for enlightening us Dakota. MB Basher is just a little biased towards anything MB related. But hey, if he has actual facts then by all means let it out =)