VIDEO: Explaining the "New GM" to America in commercial form
There are lots of places you can find official information about what's happening to General Motors right now. In addition to www.gm.com/restructuring, GM has also launched a new website called re:invention. Already stocked with announcements and explanations regarding the company's filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this morning, the website also features a handy, dandy commercial that boils down the essentials to bite-sized, bumper sticker slogans.
The minute-long commercial, which can be viewed after the jump, admits right off the bat that "No company wants to go through this," and goes on to frame the situation like this: "GM needs to start over in order to get stronger." Amidst a siezure-inducing barrage of scenes from Americana, the narrator explains in a nutshell that the old way wasn't working and the new way will be "Leaner, Greener, Faster, Smarter."
Follow the jump to view the video for yourself and let us know if it gets the right message across about "New GM".
[Source: re:invention]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Fernando 3:06PM (6/01/2009)
Oh how cute! I want my money back you thief's!
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Sea Urchin 3:09PM (6/01/2009)
Hey at least Big Ben Roethlisberger made some money from this ad.
Erik 3:23PM (6/01/2009)
Oh how cute! He thinks this is somehow different that than the squandering of tax dollars that has been going on for decades and is an engrained part of America's political machine.
Sorry, but the government is not going to spend only on what Fernando approves of. I guarintee there are a hundred government programs out there funded by tax dollars that would make the GM bailout look like a great investment. Just so happens this one is being spotlighted by the media at the moment. You won't always like how the government spends its tax revenue, but that's just the way it works, no sense in crying about it. And in no way is that money yours. It's the government's.
Fernando 3:30PM (6/01/2009)
Yeah isn't it great that they steal from you without any regard to you and your family. That is why I would of voted for Ron Paul if I believed voting would actually change anything. And if the media weren't so paid off to represent the guy with the most amount of padding in their pockets. I say in the 2012 elections we all vote for ourselves as write inns and see what happens then.
Tool 3:40PM (6/01/2009)
Leaner. Greener. Faster. Smarter.
There's your tagline. As much as I have been a critic of GM, that's a pretty damn good corporate brand promise.
Everyone loves a good turnaround story. Look at most great movies. Now it's time for GM to execute. I hope they are successful.
chad.dawkins 3:44PM (6/01/2009)
Question, if GM were to go under then would you complain about all your money going to the millions of people that would be hitting unemployment because of that?
Fernando 10:24PM (6/01/2009)
Yeah I didn't vote because I cannot. I am not an us citizen, even though I served honorably for 4 years in the USMC, I still have to shell out $1500 to do so, but that's a whole other argument in itself. So I guess that more then grants me the right to whine and moans IMO. To tell you the truth even if I could vote I still would not because I beleive that system is totally flawed. Either way I will not shut up because I beleive that the first ammendment is still somewhat in tact still even after Bush masacred our freedom. And no I do not support Obama. Ron Paul IMO would best fit this cluster f$:k we are in now.
Randy 11:26PM (6/01/2009)
You know!!! I'm a "Buy Domestic" kinda of person at heart and have owned imports too but...... I'm sticking with Ford. I cannot buy a GM product knowing that its a rich spoiled kids that got bailed out while Ford's been busting its ass to get it right and has!
No kidding... I'm just amazed! I figure if I buy a Ford (which I currently own a Dodge) I'll be doing America the best favor!
Sorry to GM die hards buts I just can't do it... even though I love the new Carmaro.. sniffle...
EEL 11:35PM (6/01/2009)
@ Fernando,
I give you my sincere thanks for serving in the USMC, but your argument to not vote is absolute weak sauce! When I say vote, I mean for people to vote for who or what they believe in and if you don't, then what right do you have to claim any rights? You want to claim your right to our Bill of Rights, yet not vote? You've got some nerve. Look, I sincerely like Ron Paul, but I choose to vote for someone else. If you believe in Ron Paul like you say you do, then he needs your support. To give the support that he truly needs, you need to fight to become a register voter, whether you like it or not.
A few sad pieces of history:
1) According to the Census Bureau, there were approx. 75 million registered voters that DID NOT vote in the 2000 Presidential Election. Sure we could debate how good or bad "Dubbya" was, but that's not the point.
2) It's been unfortunate in American history that not all of our citizens even had the right the vote. I'm sure you know it -- first just white males, then slowly some immigrant males with the same skin color, then women suffrage, then the civil rights movement giving blacks and other minorities. Even if our history books say otherwise, can you image the crimes committed against men and women who fought for the right to vote? I guess what I'm saying here is that 233 years and counting and the U.S. still struggles with the idea that we are a nation of immigrants! You not having the desire to vote just helps continue the vicious cycle. If you vote, then you are showing a measure of respect to all people who have come before you who fought for that right. And it shows a sense of civil duty to all people today.
3)If there is a will, there is a way. Once you are registered, I'm sure you could still find a proper way to show your disgust by using your vote. Now I am probably off on the specifics, but I think as long as Ron Paul was registered as a candidate for President, you still could have voted for him for President as a write-in candidate.
So at the very least, give it some thought and hopefully reconsider your stance against voting. Yes, our system has a lot of flaws. But it takes registered voters that exercise that right to help fix what is broken. Even baby steps is considered progress. The fact that you have served the U.S. and are still having obstacle thrown in your way to becoming a citizen (or holding dual citizenship if you so choose) is an outrage. That money should be waived and as a taxpayer, I have no problem footing the bill. But not if you are going to sit on the sidelines like that!
Alex 3:07PM (6/01/2009)
ehh...
I don't see it doing much to bring buyers back into the showrooms.
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Tim 3:08PM (6/01/2009)
GM will introduce a new program "we'll pay when you pay"
Buy any GM car or truck and they will give us our money back after all the workers, managers, suppliers, and dealers are paid.
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Jared 11:08PM (6/01/2009)
I prefer the Hitler style and they just give everyone a car.
I'll take my Camaro in black please.
Edsel 3:09PM (6/01/2009)
WHAT? No "thank you" to the American taxpayer for allowing GM the opportunity to even write a new chapter?
I'm buying Fords from now on.
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Mike 3:25PM (6/01/2009)
We're paying for them to write Chapter 11 of their book. :p
Cmicasa the GREAT 5:28PM (6/01/2009)
Your name is EDSEL... Something tells me that U've been TROLLING for FORD for quite a while.
GO GM... Leaner and Better.
PJ 5:44PM (6/01/2009)
+1 Edsel. Watching that video pissed me off. This is the same kind of insultingly simplistic rah-rah campaign GM has relied on for the last ten years—the "This is our country, this is our truck" and "An American Revolution" schmaltz.
Football! Flags! Hockey! Barn-raising! Ohhh lawdy, GM is BACK, I can feel it!!!
I can only hope this video represents the last public gasp of the "old GM," and that real change will come once its assets are sold to new leadership.
bendem 3:12PM (6/01/2009)
Eh.. sure, "fewer, stronger brands," but I don't understand how Buick fits into that plan.
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Mike 3:16PM (6/01/2009)
Buick is huge in China. There are more of them then there are of us. GM's dirty little (not so) secret.
Nick_318is 3:19PM (6/01/2009)
The China Factor, they rove them some Buick.
wakka092 3:22PM (6/01/2009)
That is very true, but this commercial is about America. Not China. I guess if they are successful with Buick in China then they can afford to keep the brand here in the United States.