"Imported from Detroit" is a phrase not to be taken literally, says Chrysler

A U.S. consumer group has a problem with Chrysler's new "Imported from Detroit" ads: the cars in them aren't actually imported from Detroit or the USA. In fact, they're built right here in Canada.

The Made in the USA Foundation, which promotes buying American-made products, claims that one of Chrysler's "Imported from Detroit" ads is misleading since the Chrysler 300 featured in it is actually built in Brampton, Ontario. The Brampton plant also makes the Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger.

The acclaimed "Imported from Detroit" campaign was introduced in February during the Superbowl and features the music of Detroit-born rapper Eminem as a Chrysler car veers through the gritty streets of Motown.

"The ads are clever, but they are false," Made in the USA's chairman Joel Joesph said in a statement.

"The Chrysler 300 is assembled in Brampton, Ontario, Canada and often includes a Mexican-made engine. Last time I checked, Detroit is not in Canada. Chrysler is flat wrong to imply the Chrysler 300 is made in the United States and we have asked the FTC to order corrective advertising."

Chrysler is not the only automaker this consumer group has issues with. They've taken issue with a Ford dealership ad which calls the Ford Fusion "American" even though it's built in Mexico.

Chrysler says there is "no merit" to the complaint and that "Imported from Detroit" is a phrase not to be taken literally.

A Ford spokesperson said that the Fusion ad being challenged was drafted by a dealership, and not directly linked to Ford itself.

[Source: CTV]

Comments

[Joe]

What is also funny are people driving around in Canada with bumper stickers that say buy domestic or eat your import. Canada does not have a domestic car company, we do have manufactures assembling cars in Canada. We can say buy Canadian made but that would also include Honda and others.

[Bob]

Maybe they need to say made in North America???

[joeurb]

And that is why the "biggame" add featured a Chrysler 200 made in Sterling Heights MI.