According to the Chrysler Super Bowl ad featuring Clint Eastwood, “This country can’t be knocked out with one punch. We get right back up. And when we do, the world is going to hear the roar of our engines.”
Is Chrysler really on that amazing an upswing?
WWJ-TV CBS Detroit, First Forecast Mornings News Anchor Syma Chowdhry went to Golling Chrysler to find out if the Super Bowl ad is driving consumers in or are they just “kicking the tires.”
Bill Golling from Golling Chrysler said of the ad, “I think it’s going to give people some hope. Certainly it’s good for our city. It’s good for our car company.”
The ad quickly became controversial with the “halftime” theme leading some Republicans to say it was a thinly veiled attempt for Chrysler to endorse President Barack Obama, who is running for his second term in office. Obama pushed for the auto bailout that rescued Chrysler in the depths of the Great Recession, something Republicans — including Michigan’s own former governor’s son Mitt Romney – object to.
The ad emphasizes what’s going on with today’s Chrysler, where profits are trickling down to employees. This is the first year since 2005 that employees will receive profit sharing checks.
Golling added, “Jefferson Ave. is adding a third shift. And beside the assembly plant — you have to now supply the parts too.”
Autobeat Reporter Jeff Gilbert brings some perspective on the issue adding, “Chrysler says that it expects to make about a billion and a half dollars this year. And that’s going to start it down the real road to profitability.”
Gilbert also comments on the new Chevrolet post-apocalyptic ad, “This shows that healthy competition is back and that shows that people don’t have to stand together to protect themselves, they feel like they can go out there and fight in the marketplace. Which is a good thing.”
So what do you think — Did Clint Eastwood nail it — or not?
