Ford Threatens Legal Action Over Chevy Silverado Super Bowl Ad

[AVANTI R5]

According to GM, the advertisement was intended as a “good-humored” spoof on the Mayan calendar predictions. Depicting a band of Silverado owners that are navigating across a “completely over-the-top, outrageous version of the devastation and destruction predicted to occur this year by the Mayan calendar.” The ad also features giant attack robots, meteors, and frogs that are falling from the sky. The punch line is when the gang of Silverado owners realized one of their friends did not survive because they drove a Ford rather than “the longest lasting, most dependable truck on the road.”

Ford took issue with the ad and we now know what the company said in a formal letter sent to GM requesting for the ad to be pulled. Representing lawyer Lynne M. Matuszak wrote, “Ford demands that Chevrolet immediately cease and desist from making any unsubstantiated and disparaging claims regarding Ford’s pickup trucks.” Matuszak’s letter further demanded that GM, “permanently remove the commercial from its website, its YouTube and Facebook pages and any other internet sites.”

Finally, Ford’s letter warned, “If Chevrolet does not comply with the above terms prior to the start of the Super Bowl, then Ford will take all appropriate steps to enforce and protect its reputation.”

Taking it a step further, Ford called out the Silverado’s safety record, noting that the 2012 Ford F-150 earned an IIHS Top Safety pick while the Silverado received less than impressive side impact, rear crash, and rollover results.

GM’s global chief marketing officer Joel Ewanick and GM are committed to broadcasting the ad and sharing it on YouTube. Joel Ewanick said, ”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.”

Like Coca Cola versus Pepsi, the clash of Ford vs. GM will last for many years to come. We will be expecting a humorous and entertaining rebuttal ad from Ford soon.

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

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[AVANTI R5]

Ford had the perfect chance to [pounce, with Chevy's side impact score.

[KC]

Could have been easier to to say "He wasn't in a Chevy" and get away with it.

--kC

[Tristar Racing]

I thought the ad was humorous, but in no way did it make me want to buy a Chevy or not buy a Ford. Ford's response, now that's the type of thing that would lead me to buy Chevy...

[GT11]

Instead of acting like a little cry baby, they should make an ad about the bailout with tax money.

[Yotsuya]

They already tried to cash in on ignorance and failed with that 'no bailout' crap. Just pointing out how many F150s are sold should be more than enough.

[monovich]

Ford Fail

[mcu81]

I would go the handout route.........

or have a commercial saying what would you like? base v6, 4.3L 195 hp "vortec" carryover from 1984 or a brand new all aluminium 3.7L with 305hp. Heck the base v6 for ford is right on par with the chevies output of their base v8.

Or just not do anything at all, sit back and make some popcorn because GM will fail again to bankruptcy and not honor warrienties!

[RallyColtTurbo]

I thought the commercial was clever, but I agree Ford is over reacting. Few folks seem to actually cross over the Ford/Chevy divide anyways - much less if lead by a SuperBowl commercial.

Did anybody else think that Clint Eastwood hawking "This is Americas halftime" for a Italian owned company was wierd? Or do most not even realize......?

[Masterauto]

Just look at some old Ford pickups, they don't age well. Then there is the F250-350 powerstroke 6.0 and 6.4 nightmare that blows up before 50k mi. (do a youtube search if you want to know) Worse even is the Ford Diesel powerstroke was the noisiest diesel on the market and get the worse mileage (lucky if you got 8mpg) Even Ford new and dumped most of them on the Euro and S American market when they ended them in 09. I like underdogs too but not losers like Ford.

[subyski]

Originally Posted by RallyColtTurbo

Did anybody else think that Clint Eastwood hawking "This is Americas halftime" for a Italian owned company was wierd? Or do most not even realize......?

To the average consumer, they don't know Fiat owns Chrysler. Most won't care that the new Dart is based on Fiat design. Most don't even know where their cars are actually made. It's all about the badge on the front of the car.

[Eyeflyistheeye]

Who's Ford's corporate lawfirm? Butthurt and Associates? That was a good ad though.

In my personal opinion, I'd trust a Chevy more than a Ford, but I think that the latest innovations in mileage and quality from Ford make it difficult to buy a Silverado over a F-150.

[mrmojoz]

Chevy suggested that someone died because they drove a Ford and you people can't see why Ford has an issue? Wow.

[Ysidro]

Muahahaha! I love the commercial! Chevy=like a Rock!

Anyway, instead getting all hurt(Ford) why not fire back with their own commercial about GM. The money is better spent there than hiring a bunch of lawyers.

Chevy suggested that someone died because they drove a Ford and you people can't see why Ford has an issue? Wow.

Chevy didnt suggest someone die but something , the Ford.
As far as I know, the Ford guy could be alive, but could not meetup because his P.O.S Ford died. He is left standed somewhere ready to be eaten by zombies like in Dawn of The Dead.

[sxotty]

Originally Posted by RallyColtTurbo

Did anybody else think that Clint Eastwood hawking "This is Americas halftime" for a Italian owned company was wierd? Or do most not even realize......?

Yes it was strange and I commented on it at the time to those watching the game with me.

As to the actual chevy commercial it was great. Quite humorous and I must say I am glad they had the twinkies as the post apocalyptic staple.

[quentinberg007]

This is the same Ford that takes people out of their late 90s model Camry and Silverados and says "OMG, isn't this 2011 F-150/Fusion so much better than your 1998 Silverado/Camry?!" Boo hoo.

[SCRAPPYDO]

Maybe this is a sign of the first wave of entitlement spoiled brats hitting the workplace that were never spanked or were never told they were not special and perfect every single day. The same kids who got participation trophies, and good sport ribbons. The kids who never had to just shut up and deal with adversity.

Or, maybe I am wrong....

[mcu81]

Originally Posted by quentinberg007

This is the same Ford that takes people out of their late 90s model Camry and Silverados and says "OMG, isn't this 2011 F-150/Fusion so much better than your 1998 Silverado/Camry?!" Boo hoo.

Take anybody out of their any year silverado and put them in a 2011 F150. If they have any brain they will stay there.

I wont argue camry/fusion.

[mrmojoz]

"The punch line is when the gang of Silverado owners realized one of their friends did not survive because they drove a Ford rather than “the longest lasting, most dependable truck on the road.”"

Originally Posted by Ysidro

Chevy didnt suggest someone die but something , the Ford.
As far as I know, the Ford guy could be alive, but could not meetup because his P.O.S Ford died. He is left standed somewhere ready to be eaten by zombies like in Dawn of The Dead.

Yeah that's not what the commercial was saying. But being a Chevy fanboy and all I can see how you'd not be able understand things like shapes or commercials.

[vapore0n]

would have been a great opportunity for ford

...now that we got all that fiction out of the way (the Mayan Apocalypse, and the Silverado), here is the real deal ...cue safety records, sales, etc.

[Tristar Racing]

Originally Posted by SCRAPPYDO

Maybe this is a sign of the first wave of entitlement spoiled brats hitting the workplace that were never spanked or were never told they were not special and perfect every single day. The same kids who got participation trophies, and good sport ribbons. The kids who never had to just shut up and deal with adversity.

Or, maybe I am wrong....

Great point, I hope for everyone's sake your wrong.

[quentinberg007]

Originally Posted by SCRAPPYDO

Maybe this is a sign of the first wave of entitlement spoiled brats hitting the workplace that were never spanked or were never told they were not special and perfect every single day. The same kids who got participation trophies, and good sport ribbons. The kids who never had to just shut up and deal with adversity.

Or, maybe I am wrong....

I'm 29 and my gen was still spanked. You think that people under 29 years old are making the call to threaten legal action? I guarantee you that it was some head of marketing or public relations, who is surely in their late 40s or 50s at the youngest, that made the call to threaten legal action. I know that it is cool to blame younger folks for all the problems in the world, but the fact is that the automotive industry is run by older, white men. Heck, Bob Lutz is around 80 years old and he's still a mouthpiece for GM. Mulally is 67 years old this year.

The kids that had helicopter parents that never spanked are just finishing college and can't find jobs. Old, entitled, rich guys milked the economy for all it was worth until it burst a few years back leaving jobs as scarce as hen's teeth. 22 ~ 27 year olds aren't in executive positions at automakers.

[SCRAPPYDO]

Somebody had to raise these entitled 20 something brats. They did not get that way by themselves.

[SCRAPPYDO]

Originally Posted by Tristar Racing

Great point, I hope for everyone's sake your wrong.

So do I!!

[LoveMyCoupe]

I figure that Ford was noticing how much publicity Kim Kardashian is getting from sueing Gap over one of their ad's featuring a model who looks like her.

Lawsuit = Cheap Publicity