"Dr. Z" Chrysler Commercials
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 0
From: MD
I guess I am the only one "on here" but I think it is a great marketing plan and in metro Detroit it has been a big hit it seems in the news.
They found a way to say hey, don’t lump us in with the big 3, we are part of the Benz group and you get that high end German engineering in our cars.
They found a way to say hey, don’t lump us in with the big 3, we are part of the Benz group and you get that high end German engineering in our cars.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 0
From: MD
On this forum we are generally more educated about the auto industry and can laugh at a campaign like this.
However, the general public is very ignorant about the industry and what the current qualities of auto companies really are.
People still think that Mercedes is the best in quality - even BMW. They still relate German engineering as top notch quality. That's why VW commercials still try to use this to their advantage.
So telling people that Chrysler is part of a German company will actually attract many buyers.
In effect, it will probably be a very successful campaign even if we can see past it.
However, the general public is very ignorant about the industry and what the current qualities of auto companies really are.
People still think that Mercedes is the best in quality - even BMW. They still relate German engineering as top notch quality. That's why VW commercials still try to use this to their advantage.
So telling people that Chrysler is part of a German company will actually attract many buyers.
In effect, it will probably be a very successful campaign even if we can see past it.
Lead Lap
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: California
Lexus Champion
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From: Michigan
Lexus Test Driver
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Here's a brief Curriculum Vitae for Dr. Z to give you an idea of what he did before he started making goofy commercials.
Dr. Dieter Zetsche. Chairman of the Board of Management, Daimler Chrysler AG. Head of Mercedes Car Group.
- Born in Istanbul, Turkey on May 5, 1953.
- Attended high school in Frankfurt.
- Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Karlsruhe, 1976.
- PhD in engineering from the Technical University of Paderborn, 1982.
Work history
- Board member, Mercedes Car Group, Daimler Chrysler AG, 2005
- Board member, CEO and President of Chrysler Group, 2000
- Board member, commercial vehicles, DaimlerChrysler AG, 1999
- Board member, Sales, DaimlerChrysler AG, 1998
- Board member, Sales, Daimler-Benz AG, 1997
- Board member, Sales, Mercedes-Benz AG, 1995
- Deputy Board member, Mercedes-Benz AG, passenger car development, 1992
- President of Frieghtliner Corp., Portland, Oregon, 1991
- President of Mercedes-Benz Argentina, 1989
- Member of senior management, Mercedes-Benz do Brazil, 1988
- Head of development, Mercedes-Benz do Brazil, 1987
- Senior design coordinator for off-road vehicles with development responsibility in the Off-road Vehicle business unit, Daimler-Benz AG, 1986
- Development coordinator, commercial vehicle development, Daimler-Benz AG, 1984
- Development assistant, commercial vehicles, Daimler-Benz AG, 1981
- Research department, Daimler-Benz AG, 1976
Dr. Dieter Zetsche has been a member of the Board of Management of DaimlerChrysler AG since December 16, 1998 and its Chairman since January 1, 2006. He is also Chief Executive Officer of the Mercedes Car Group, which includes passenger cars from Mercedes-Benz, Maybach, and Smart as well as Mercedes-Benz AMG and Mercedes-Benz McLaren.
Dr. Dieter Zetsche. Chairman of the Board of Management, Daimler Chrysler AG. Head of Mercedes Car Group.
- Born in Istanbul, Turkey on May 5, 1953.
- Attended high school in Frankfurt.
- Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Karlsruhe, 1976.
- PhD in engineering from the Technical University of Paderborn, 1982.
Work history
- Board member, Mercedes Car Group, Daimler Chrysler AG, 2005
- Board member, CEO and President of Chrysler Group, 2000
- Board member, commercial vehicles, DaimlerChrysler AG, 1999
- Board member, Sales, DaimlerChrysler AG, 1998
- Board member, Sales, Daimler-Benz AG, 1997
- Board member, Sales, Mercedes-Benz AG, 1995
- Deputy Board member, Mercedes-Benz AG, passenger car development, 1992
- President of Frieghtliner Corp., Portland, Oregon, 1991
- President of Mercedes-Benz Argentina, 1989
- Member of senior management, Mercedes-Benz do Brazil, 1988
- Head of development, Mercedes-Benz do Brazil, 1987
- Senior design coordinator for off-road vehicles with development responsibility in the Off-road Vehicle business unit, Daimler-Benz AG, 1986
- Development coordinator, commercial vehicle development, Daimler-Benz AG, 1984
- Development assistant, commercial vehicles, Daimler-Benz AG, 1981
- Research department, Daimler-Benz AG, 1976
Dr. Dieter Zetsche has been a member of the Board of Management of DaimlerChrysler AG since December 16, 1998 and its Chairman since January 1, 2006. He is also Chief Executive Officer of the Mercedes Car Group, which includes passenger cars from Mercedes-Benz, Maybach, and Smart as well as Mercedes-Benz AMG and Mercedes-Benz McLaren.
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Honestly, he is very recognizable now. Although we may not take him seriously, he's a good advertising figure. Maybe he'll rise to the pop culture status of Elvis or Mickey Mouse!!!
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 719
Likes: 0
From: Torrance, California
I think that while there is nothing particularly clever about the commercials themselves, they did a fantastic job with the campaign and concept.
Most people can easily identify with the quirky, amicable Dr. Z and associate him with Daimler Chrysler. It's much more memorable than say...the somewhat stale Lexus IS350 commercials with all the crazy angles and "why live in one dimension" slogan.
The Dr. Z commercials are one hell of an improvement over the ones with Snoop Dogg+CEO. The Dr. Z commercials keep the focus on the core branding, without being boring or condescending.
It's genius because they used the well established, effective marketing campaigns of the other German automakers ("German...engineering") to advance and promote their own brand. The timing of the Dr. Z campaign couldn't be any better. Hats off to the marketing department on that one!
Most people can easily identify with the quirky, amicable Dr. Z and associate him with Daimler Chrysler. It's much more memorable than say...the somewhat stale Lexus IS350 commercials with all the crazy angles and "why live in one dimension" slogan.
The Dr. Z commercials are one hell of an improvement over the ones with Snoop Dogg+CEO. The Dr. Z commercials keep the focus on the core branding, without being boring or condescending.
It's genius because they used the well established, effective marketing campaigns of the other German automakers ("German...engineering") to advance and promote their own brand. The timing of the Dr. Z campaign couldn't be any better. Hats off to the marketing department on that one!
Lexus Connoisseur
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,899
Likes: 612
From: USA
