“Bring on the infrastructure” roars GMC’s latest truck ad, erasing the images of American blight and decay that opened the spot. “If we’re gonna rebuild this country,” intones the tough-guy voice over, “we’re gonna need the truck that’s been doing the job for the last 100 years.” The ad, available at Jalopnik, is one tiny step away from being “brought to you by Sierra, official truck of the 2009 federal stimulus package.” On the other hand, Detroit has always relied heavily on the patriotism factor (however warped by the times), as this slightly older ad (that we could find an embed code for) proves. Maybe the latest effort just seems more cynical because, I don’t know, GM is already dependent on federal largesse. And for some reason, GM dealers seem to think the answer is more cynical posturing, reports AdAge. Dealers are “clamoring for a national ad campaign to counteract the daily drumbeat of negative news about whether the company will go belly up,” and GM’s Mark LaNeve admits that the bad news is “telling GM’s story for us.” Which heralds fewer sales-building, product-based ads and more bailout-baiting, “brand building” spots. So stand by for more of the “GM is America” nonsense.
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the only nonsense is the marketing department at GM.
First of all, who are the guys in the WW1 helmets? I’ve never seen photos of American GIs in Europe during WWII with that helmet. Minor pedantic point perhaps but it’s annoying.
Second, maybe the point of this commercial is to say that GM, flush with their success in re-introducing the Camaro to the American car market, has decided to reach deeper into the nostalgia bucket and re-introduce the DUKW amphibious truck!
They’d certainly have that segment of the market to themselves!
When I skimmed the post title I thought it was “German Motor Ad Watch”.
Needless to say there were some very interesting thoughts going through my head when I watched the video.
I’ve never seen photos of American GIs in Europe during WWII with that helmet
They’re Canadians, eh? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mk_III_Turtle_helmet
Please, GM.
What bullshit.
WWII really isn’t anywhere that GM should be going.
First Opels for Hitler, then GMCs for the Allies. I would call that a draw.
@Martin Albright: You saw right. They didn’t use those helmets in War 2. The helmets depicted are from War 1. Can’t even get the tinpots right …..
no_slushbox, will the Volt make a draw with the Beetle? I mean, they are both vaporware before the empire is brought down.
I’m with no_slushbox.
Does Opel show a similar commercial highlighting their contributions to the other side?
I think the next time someone in GM marketing wants to produce another Band of Brothers/Private Ryan rip off they should first provide an accounting of how many GM trucks were used to transport Jews, Gypsies, Gays and PoWs to crematoria.
They didn’t use those helmets in World War 2.
The Canadians and the Brits did. That ad is for GMC Canada, not the US.
patriotism
refuge
scoundrels
etc
Ohh ic – that explains why i’ve never seen that ad.
Well, this new GMC ad is better than the last commercial I saw where a GM owner was doing some infrastructure creation.
I waiting for same style ad from Mitsubishi showing a Zero strafing Pearl Harbor.
Or perhaps the 1st Porsche Hybrid Vehicle in action.
Reminds me of a funny joke I heard recently.
Q: What is a GMC?
A: A Chevy truck with lockwashers.
GM marketing is by far the worst in the business. Have you seen the new Saturn ads with the dealer guy that’s pissed off about what people are saying about them in the news? “I hear all the pundits saying that America can’t build cars that people want. Well SATURN builds cars that people want. We buy our own competitors cars and let our customers drive them. Nothing sells a Saturn better.” The sales figures seem to tell a different story. Classic GM. Blame everyone else (media, consumers) for your problems and then talk smack on all of your competitors.
when all else fails, wrap yourself in flag.
seems they cant compete on anything else.
I think it’s a great commercial. It appeals to the target demographic, and it’s not the same boring car commercial.
GMC and the Advertising Agency deserve an A+.
GM keeps bringing up how they helped us out during WW2 and it is getting old. The companies that are putting GM out of business were under Hitler or we nuked them during WW2. It seems to me that most consumers don’t care about what the countries did during the war.
All this ad does is remind me how great America once was, and how bad things are today. GMC was once great, now they are utter crap.
What happened to the America of WW2. We already know the GM of that era was outsourced to Opel, Holden, and Daewoo. Unlike our victory in WW2, America may lose the innovation war.
American “know how” has been replaced with American “won’t how”.
Everything stinks……….
And 40 years later…in the mid 80’s….if you were a “GMC” driver, more than likely a Toyota would come to your rescue as you sat on the roadside hoping your 4-wheeled GMC POS would miraculously get you to your destination.
But you know what? The people who “typically” drive GM’s crap are the lowest common denominator…that is, they have two legs, two arms, and a thing on their shoulders which freely speaking may be call a “head”. So this type of “lowest common denominator” advertising just may work. …for the “intended audience”.
Why don’t we extol the virtues of “GMC” to THESE people?!?!:
http://advocate.soundtrax.net/issues/general_motors.asp
If “GMC” is so valiant and filled to the brim with righteous morality- why were they so quick to stick it to their very own loyal, cash-paying customers on the piston slap issue?
Here, I’ve been so kind as to provide you a map where you can obtain a free consultation with an attorney:
http://www.pistonslap.com/attorney.htm
And here are some contacts for you…so that you can contact them directly and tell them in person how you REALLY appreciate them winning WWII for us all:
http://www.pistonslap.com/gmcontacts.htm
Just as an FYI. Americans most certainly *did* wear helmets of that style early during the U.S.’s involvement in World War II. Of course the Ad starts off with “Europe 1944” so by that time the more familiar M1 helmet was used. The Ad is still inaccurate.
However, the Marines at Wake Island, the soldiers at Bataan and Corregidor wore the helmets depicited in the video.
For those interested here is more info:
http://www.olive-drab.com/od_soldiers_gear_m1_helmet.php
Marketing issues aside, management arrogance and stupidity aside, I feel the need to defend the GM full-size truck line here.
My 2002 full-size (Chevrolet) truck, purchased new and now with 85,000 miles, has had no repairs since the end of the warranty period at 36k. None. Tires lasted to 80k. First brakes needed at 70k. My total upkeep cost since new (Including tires, oil changes, and normal maintenance) is $1484.73. That’s 1.7 cents per mile folks. Try that with your busy Toyota/Honda/Nissan maintenance schedule (aka. Dealer’s Kids College Fund).
Everything on my truck works. It still runs and drives very nice. I think that’s pretty good. Not for sale. I will own it forever.
GM does have a problem with consistency, your results may vary, but I’ve owned enough POS imports to know that they aren’t made by God, and they will screw your wallet over too.
“they were the first ones in, and the last ones out”
Is this a freudian slip from GMC’s subconscious, refering to the companys present situation, or is it a subliminal message?
Great ad…I caught it a couple of days ago.Of course I am a member of the lowest common denominator class.My dad to, he bought GM his whole life.He was a decorated
army medic for the British and Canadian army
They fought those wars for freedom.Freedom is a wonderfull thing.It allows someone with a key board to insult anybody they choose.
i’m sorry. i was having some doubleplus ungoodthink and had to stop watching somewhere around “…and rivers.”
“On the other hand, Detroit has always relied heavily on the patriotism factor…”
Oh so sad that that means virtually nothing to today’s crowd. Just a by product of the left teaching all to hate America.
oh mikey!
Made me spill my beer all over myself!
Always read what you have to say. Find it fascinating!