GM News: Ford Asks GM To Not Show Silverado "2012" Ad, GM Says No *UPDATED*

[William Maley]

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William Maley

Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com

February 5, 2012

General Motors and Ford Motor Company are butting heads over a commerical to air on tonights Super Bowl. Today, Ford sent GM cease and decease order to take down the "2012" commercial for the Chevrolet Silverado. Ford also pressured NBC to not air the ad tonight.

The ad shows the Mayan prediction that the world will end on December 21, 2012 comes true. With a disastrous looking landscape, the only remaining object to survive is a new Silverado truck. The driver and his dog drive around in the wasteland till they come across a group of other Silverado owners. The group talks about a fellow friend that did not make it because he drove a Ford truck.

“We stand by our claims in the commercial, that the Silverado is the most dependable, longest-lasting full-size pickup on the road. The ad is a fun way of putting this claim in the context of the apocalypse. We can wait until the world ends, and if we need to, we will apologize. In the meantime, people who are really worried about the Mayan calendar coming true should buy a Silverado right away,” said General Motors Global Chief Marketing Officer Joel Ewanick.

For now, GM has said the ad will still air during the first quarter.

*UPDATE* Ford spokesman Mike Levine confirmed to Motoramic that Ford did send GM a letter asking them to take the ad down, saying Ford disagreed with several of GM's claims, "particularly around durability." Levine also said GM's "longest-lasting" claims are false due to Ford having more trucks on the road with 250,000 miles or more than any other make.

"Claims are made in advertising frequently by every auto manufacturer. This type of ad protest happens from time to time...We'll always defend our products."

Levine said any decision on what to do after the ad airs will come from Ford's legal team.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxFYYP8040A&feature=youtu.be

Source: Motoramic

Press Release is on page 2

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Chevy Response to Ford on Silverado 2012 Super Bowl Ad

DETROIT – Last evening Chevrolet was asked by Ford Motor Co. to stop showing its Super Bowl commercial for the Silverado, the longest-lasting, most-dependable full-size pickup on the road.

The good-humored ad, called “2012”, shows the Silverado navigating a completely over-the-top, outrageous version of the devastation and destruction predicted to occur this year by the Mayan calendar includes giant attack robots, meteors and frogs falling from the sky.

A group of friends, who are Silverado owners, makes its way to the designated meeting spot but notice one of their buddies is missing. The missing friend, however, did not drive a Chevrolet. Instead, he drove a Ford and doesn’t appear to have made it to the meeting point.

“We stand by our claims in the commercial, that the Silverado is the most dependable, longest-lasting full-size pickup on the road. The ad is a fun way of putting this claim in the context of the apocalypse,” said General Motors Global Chief Marketing Officer Joel Ewanick. “We can wait until the world ends, and if we need to, we will apologize. In the meantime, people who are really worried about the Mayan calendar coming true should buy a Silverado right away.”

The Silverado ad will run in the first quarter of the Super Bowl and is one of five spots that Chevrolet is debuting on Super Bowl Sunday. To see all of the spots visit: http://www.youtube.c...Chevrolet/home.

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[Justin Bimmer]

Awesome!

[crunksoulbrotha!!`]

suck it up ford!!!! quit whining, you've been pokin fun @ chevy and mopar for 2 long, its payback!!!!

[FAPTurbo]

GM's reponse to Ford: 'u mad?'

[ocnblu]

First time I clicked on Chevy's ad. It's spectacular!

[Camino LS6]

I saw this ad on-line yesterday, and it's a great ad! Ford needs to grow-up and shut-up, the ad is obviously just a good-humored jab and they should take it as such.

[Drew Dowdell]

Ewanick is continuing to taunt Ford on Twitter

[smk4565]

I don't know how you really back up a claim of most dependable or how to dispute it. Chevy has always made that claim, Ford can't really disprove it. Ford shouldn't stir the pot, it just makes them look bad, unless they want to offer a mega warranty on F150 becaue they feel so strongly about the product.

But neither of these is as tough as a Toyota Hilux.

The ad is okay, but it isn't even all that great. The top 2 car ads are the Hyundai Veloster vs Cheetah, and the Kia Optima with Adriana Lima. The Ferris Buhler style CR-V ad is decent too, but it is pretty long.

Edited February 5, 2012 by smk4565

[Camino LS6]

Ewanick is continuing to taunt Ford on Twitter

Nice to see a little backbone at GM!

[Drew Dowdell]

Ewanick is continuing to taunt Ford on Twitter

Nice to see a little backbone at GM!

In a reply to AutoGuide - JoelEwanick @AutoGuide and guess what, we are not pulling it, we sent out a rescue party to find Dave and get him Twinkesand guess what, we are not pulling it, we sent out a rescue party to find Dave and get him Twinkes

[Camino LS6]

[ocnblu]

What's Dave going to do with twinks?

[Drew Dowdell]

Read it again perv

[Robert Hall]

They just played the ad...strange...a Barry Manilow song in a Chevy truck ad??

[ocnblu]

Oh you meant Twinkies.

[Z-06]

Seriously Ford, all that taunting about we are the only American manufacturer without bailout and we don't need a special electric vehicle and now you are bitching?

[Robert Hall]

Speaking of Super Bowl car ads, I loved the Chrysler one w/ Clint that just aired...

[Turbojett]

what the hell's Ford whining about? In the old days they'd just strike back and fight fire with fire. Now they're all super butthurt over the ad and whining over it? come on.

I also love how Ewanick said "people who are really worried about the Mayan calendar coming true should buy a Silverado right away"

'cause really, if you're dumb enough to believe that mimbo-jumbo, we can sell you anything. A Chevy truck...a bridge in Brooklyn...

[G. David Felt]

I thought the Chevy ad was awesome, so did everyone at my parents superbowl party. It was right there with Audi commerial for the most favorite.

[hyperv6]

This was well done. The Manilow and Twinkies at the end were just perfect for the whole thing. With all the stupid things MFG do for truck advertisments this was great. Ford has done a few jokes of their own of towing ships and trains and neither were that funny.

They also want to claim they are the longest lasting. I wonder just how they figure this. Is this counting just the F150 or are they counting ever F series they ever built? They can use creative accounting when adding up sales so I figure the same applies here.

I wish Joe's comments would get better play for the public. It is nice to see someone at GM with Spirit other than Lutz.

[G. David Felt]

This was well done. The Manilow and Twinkies at the end were just perfect for the whole thing. With all the stupid things MFG do for truck advertisments this was great. Ford has done a few jokes of their own of towing ships and trains and neither were that funny.

They also want to claim they are the longest lasting. I wonder just how they figure this. Is this counting just the F150 or are they counting ever F series they ever built? They can use creative accounting when adding up sales so I figure the same applies here.

I wish Joe's comments would get better play for the public. It is nice to see someone at GM with Spirit other than Lutz.

Yes, GM needs a few more voices that are in sync to preach to the world. A single Lutz does not cut it, you need to have a captian of each division that is making the world know about their products.

[chevelle454]

Stop crying Ford.

[Gizhost]

Great ad...can't believe they are getting so bent out of shape...its all in good fun.

[riviera74]

Dear Ford,

Stop bellyaching and step your game up. Your whining makes you look like a little girl who dropped her ice cream cone.

Sincerely, GM

[Robert Hall]

Other than some hardware changes as far as the engines and maybe other dirty bits, the F150 is a 9 yr old design that had one refresh a few years ago and has bland blocky styling and an ugly cheap, plasticky interior. It's nothing for Ford to crow about...(well, other than being #1 in sales for the last 40 years or so?)

Edited February 7, 2012 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[G. David Felt]

Other than some hardware changes as far as the engines and maybe other dirty bits, the F150 is a 9 yr old design that had one refresh a few years ago and has bland blocky styling and an ugly cheap, plasticky interior. It's nothing for Ford to crow about...(well, other than being #1 in sales for the last 40 years or so?)

#1 due to being the Cheap Redneck truck of those that seem to not want to demand a nice better truck. They are the Plastics of the Plastic industry.

[hyperv6]

Ford is number one in sales do to mass discounts on fleets.

[CanadianBacon94]

Other than some hardware changes as far as the engines and maybe other dirty bits, the F150 is a 9 yr old design that had one refresh a few years ago and has bland blocky styling and an ugly cheap, plasticky interior. It's nothing for Ford to crow about...(well, other than being #1 in sales for the last 40 years or so?)

#1 due to being the Cheap Redneck truck of those that seem to not want to demand a nice better truck. They are the Plastics of the Plastic industry.

So you prefer the GM interior that gets ragged on over the ford or dodge that most critics put on top?

(serious question.)

i haven't had first hand experience with all of them so i don't know

[Robert Hall]

Other than some hardware changes as far as the engines and maybe other dirty bits, the F150 is a 9 yr old design that had one refresh a few years ago and has bland blocky styling and an ugly cheap, plasticky interior. It's nothing for Ford to crow about...(well, other than being #1 in sales for the last 40 years or so?)

#1 due to being the Cheap Redneck truck of those that seem to not want to demand a nice better truck. They are the Plastics of the Plastic industry.

So you prefer the GM interior that gets ragged on over the ford or dodge that most critics put on top?

(serious question.)

i haven't had first hand experience with all of them so i don't know

Nothing wrong w/ GM and Ram interiors...I had a '10 F150 as a rental a couple years ago, the dash was just a bunch of ugly plastic rectangles within rectangles. Cheap, nasty plastics...

[Turbojett]

I like the BMW ad:

"Hey honey, where the (honk) are you going?"

[G. David Felt]

Other than some hardware changes as far as the engines and maybe other dirty bits, the F150 is a 9 yr old design that had one refresh a few years ago and has bland blocky styling and an ugly cheap, plasticky interior. It's nothing for Ford to crow about...(well, other than being #1 in sales for the last 40 years or so?)

#1 due to being the Cheap Redneck truck of those that seem to not want to demand a nice better truck. They are the Plastics of the Plastic industry.

So you prefer the GM interior that gets ragged on over the ford or dodge that most critics put on top?

(serious question.)

i haven't had first hand experience with all of them so i don't know

Nothing wrong w/ GM and Ram interiors...I had a '10 F150 as a rental a couple years ago, the dash was just a bunch of ugly plastic rectangles within rectangles. Cheap, nasty plastics...

This I totally agree with GM and Dodge have way better interiors than Ford, the last 30 years and Ford still makes a cheap interior.

Even with all the rage on how great the new Mustanges are and yet you sit in one and it has a look and feel of cheapness, you can clearly identify the parts bin parts and worse yet is the bad rust I find on so many engine and driveline components.

I have yet to see Ford Quality Job 1 ever on Ford products.

[A Horse With No Name]

I saw this ad on-line yesterday, and it's a great ad! Ford needs to grow-up and shut-up, the ad is obviously just a good-humored jab and they should take it as such.

Exactly....

[A Horse With No Name]

Other than some hardware changes as far as the engines and maybe other dirty bits, the F150 is a 9 yr old design that had one refresh a few years ago and has bland blocky styling and an ugly cheap, plasticky interior. It's nothing for Ford to crow about...(well, other than being #1 in sales for the last 40 years or so?)

#1 due to being the Cheap Redneck truck of those that seem to not want to demand a nice better truck. They are the Plastics of the Plastic industry.

So you prefer the GM interior that gets ragged on over the ford or dodge that most critics put on top?

(serious question.)

i haven't had first hand experience with all of them so i don't know

Nothing wrong w/ GM and Ram interiors...I had a '10 F150 as a rental a couple years ago, the dash was just a bunch of ugly plastic rectangles within rectangles. Cheap, nasty plastics...

This I totally agree with GM and Dodge have way better interiors than Ford, the last 30 years and Ford still makes a cheap interior.

Even with all the rage on how great the new Mustanges are and yet you sit in one and it has a look and feel of cheapness, you can clearly identify the parts bin parts and worse yet is the bad rust I find on so many engine and driveline components.

I have yet to see Ford Quality Job 1 ever on Ford products.

I'm glad someone else here see's that Ford is not the coming automotive messiah in terms of Craftsmanship...the Challenger is a much nicer ride than the 'stang in my opinion...and yeah... dodge of Chevy/GMC for trucks, any day of the week.

[Blake Noble]

It took Ford that long to notice all of the teasing? Dodge was doing it a couple of weeks before Chevy jumped in on the fun.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zXM63MLgkaA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Edited February 9, 2012 by black-knight

[G. David Felt]

It took Ford that long to notice all of the teasing? Dodge was doing it a couple of weeks before Chevy jumped in on the fun.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zXM63MLgkaA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I loved this commercial, it was freakin funny.

[chevelle454]

I too think that Ford has cheap interiors. I really don't see what the media sees in Ford.

[SAmadei]

Even my diehard Blue Oval friends have been complaining about the overall crapiness of the F150 since about 2002. I have a friend would would dearly like the trade in his 2002 non-Lightning "Lightning", but every new truck has interior, quality and drivetrain issues.

Now he's looking for a nice '52-'56 F-100.

[GMTruckGuy74]

It took Ford that long to notice all of the teasing? Dodge was doing it a couple of weeks before Chevy jumped in on the fun.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zXM63MLgkaA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

LOVE IT! Way to go Dodge

[Drew Dowdell]

Other than some hardware changes as far as the engines and maybe other dirty bits, the F150 is a 9 yr old design that had one refresh a few years ago and has bland blocky styling and an ugly cheap, plasticky interior. It's nothing for Ford to crow about...(well, other than being #1 in sales for the last 40 years or so?)

They are #1 in sales for that long only if you're counting F-150 v. Silverado only. Add in Sierra and/or Avalanche to GM's count and the title of #1 1/2 ton pickup seller has flipped back and forth a few times over those years. (and back into the C/K1500 years too)

[hyperv6]

Other than some hardware changes as far as the engines and maybe other dirty bits, the F150 is a 9 yr old design that had one refresh a few years ago and has bland blocky styling and an ugly cheap, plasticky interior. It's nothing for Ford to crow about...(well, other than being #1 in sales for the last 40 years or so?)

They are #1 in sales for that long only if you're counting F-150 v. Silverado only. Add in Sierra and/or Avalanche to GM's count and the title of #1 1/2 ton pickup seller has flipped back and forth a few times over those years. (and back into the C/K1500 years too)

Ford has long used creative accounting when addressing sales. That is why I question their longest lasting claim. Is that just the F150 or the F series. Or is that just some years vs others.

I would love to see GM state they are the MFG of the most trucks with Chevy and GMC.

[Robert Hall]

Other than some hardware changes as far as the engines and maybe other dirty bits, the F150 is a 9 yr old design that had one refresh a few years ago and has bland blocky styling and an ugly cheap, plasticky interior. It's nothing for Ford to crow about...(well, other than being #1 in sales for the last 40 years or so?)

They are #1 in sales for that long only if you're counting F-150 v. Silverado only. Add in Sierra and/or Avalanche to GM's count and the title of #1 1/2 ton pickup seller has flipped back and forth a few times over those years. (and back into the C/K1500 years too)

Ford has long used creative accounting when addressing sales. That is why I question their longest lasting claim. Is that just the F150 or the F series. Or is that just some years vs others.

I think they are cagey on whether it's the F150 or the entire line..though it was a moot point until the schism in '97.

[ocnblu]

Did you guys read where internet hits increased for FORD trucks higher and longer than for Chevy trucks after the ad?