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Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers in peril over Toyota recalls?

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Toyota

After Dave Chappelle threw himself overboard the USS Hollywood, he did an interview in which he said, "When a person tells you something's... just business, that means some ice-cold [stuff] might be about" to happen. We can imagine that Toyota, doing everything it can to make its case better in the eyes of the American government and public, called its fellow members of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers to let them know "Don't take what we're about to do personally..."

What Toyota did was send a graph of recent recalls and safety complaints to certain Congressional reps on important committees. That graph showed that the Detroit Three have led the way when it comes to recalls and safety issues, posting three times the number of issues seen at Toyota. The problem: Toyota is being questioned about its transparency and commitment, not about how many cars have been recalled and how that might compare to other automakers.

And that is said to have Ford, General Motors and Chrysler in black moods, since they see the graph as a disingenuous move to make Toyota look a little better at their expense. One Detroiter is said to have claimed "It's tearing the whole industry apart." That might be a bit much, but at the very least it could do some serious damage to the Auto Alliance, whose membership consists of Toyota, the Detroit Three, and the German automakers. But hey, it's just business...

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[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers in peril over Toyota recalls? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Toyota recall apology blitz includes new mea-culpa TV spot

Alex Nunez — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Recalls, Safety, Videos, Toyota

Toyota "Commitment" ad - Click above to watch video

Recalls have left Toyota battered and bruised with a very damaged image that now needs rebuilding. Consumer trust is not easily earned. Toyota knows it, too. The automaker worked for decades to build an image that equated quality and reliability with the company name itself. Now under heavy fire over its handling of the problems that led to the floor mat and gas pedal recalls involving its most popular and important models, Toyota has embarked upon a PR blitz intended to convince frustrated customers and a skeptical media that everything's going to be all right.

Whether that's indeed the case will become evident over time. Sales numbers speak for themselves, and if the public isn't buying Toyota's explanation, they won't be buying its vehicles, either. In any case, it'll probably be years before the recall story's epilogue can honestly be written.

For now, Toyota's primary focus is on re-establishing itself as a business that's deserving of consumers' trust. That starts with saying "I'm sorry" as frequently and in as many different venues as possible. The latest part of Toyota's apology blitz comes in the form of a new TV spot called "Commitment." It's embedded after the jump for you to watch. The message is simple and delivered well: Toyota messed up big time, it knows it, and it's fully aware that the onus is on itself to win back customers' confidence.

If Toyota's smart, it'll air during the Super Bowl later this evening. But seeing it also leaves us wondering if Toyota had spent a fraction of its PR resources on getting out in front of these recall problems months ago instead of the damage control its writing checks for now, would it even be in this position today? Unfortunately for Toyota, we'll never know.

[Source: Toyota via Gaywheels]

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Continue reading Video: Toyota recall apology blitz includes new mea-culpa TV spot

Video: Toyota recall apology blitz includes new mea-culpa TV spot originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ex-Chrysler media man Vines named head of P.R. at... Christian publishing house?

Chris Shunk — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Chrysler

Former Chrysler PR chief Jason Vines has had more than his fair share of jobs over the years. He's had automotive gigs at Chrysler, Ford and Nissan, he's worked as a stand-up comedian, he spent time at Compuware and he even spent time at the food rescue program Forgotten Harvest. We've even spotted Vines (seen here at left, with comedian David Spade) regularly hanging with John McElroy on Autoline After Hours.

The likable master of spin has reportedly found yet another calling, as he's been named the Vice President of public relations and communications at Zondervan; a Christian publishing division of HarperCollins out of Grand Rapids, MI. The move is a bit of a surprise, considering the fact that Vines' outspoken personality (some would call him outspoken, others crass) doesn't exactly jibe with the conservative nature of most Christian organizations. Vines' new job shows that really talented people tend to find work even in a down market.

[Source: Automotive News - subs req'd | Image: Bill Pugliano/Getty]

Ex-Chrysler media man Vines named head of P.R. at... Christian publishing house? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Survey: Ford's image gets a boost by nixing federal aid

Alex Nunez — Fri, 01 May 2009 19:02:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Ford

In what has to be one of the least surprising developments related to the auto industry, a newly-released survey finds that Americans' favorable view of Ford Motor Company has increased substantially since it became the sole member of the Detroit Three to abstain from taking federal funds.

Before the Capitol Hill Bailout Bonanza got going in earnest late last year, just 41% of Americans held the Blue Oval in a positive light. Now, after billions of taxpayer dollars have been spent keeping now-bankrupt Chrysler and soon-to-be (in all likelihood) bankrupt General Motors in business, FoMoCo's positive number has jumped up to 63%, according to a survey conducted by the Aloft Group last week.

However, that's not to say that those surveyed believe Ford's out of the woods: a mere 24 percent of the respondents think Ford doesn't need Uncle Sam to come to the rescue. Still, Ford's decision to mortgage everything on its own in a bid to stay alive has been a big PR success, and you can bet that Alan Mulally will instruct staffers to burn all the office furniture in Dearborn this winter before he looks to Capitol Hill for a penny in bailout dollars. In Detroit right now, the Scarlet Letter is "B."

[Source: The Detroit News]

Survey: Ford's image gets a boost by nixing federal aid originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 May 2009 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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