My Challenge to the Auto Industry

OK, I see the same TV ads everyone else sees. General Motors is doing the whole, "We can do this America" things and it makes for a good campaign except for one thing. Nothing changed. They aren't doing anything different except for using the economic crisis to sell cars.

So, I would like to take the opportunity to issue a challenge to General Motors, and to Ford Motor Company.

You want bail out money? You want the United States to help you out of a crisis? I'm ok with that. The auto industry is a big part of what made our country great in the last century, and it represents a bigger part. It represents the everyday Americans who go to work, and do their job, and go home, and keep our country moving. The auto industry has been there through the tough times. We owe it to them, to be there for them.

So, here is my challenge.

You want to show your American Spirit? You want us to put our "Rally Caps" on and rally with you? You want to prove that you, as corporations, and we, as American People are on the same side?

Here's how to do it.

STEP 1)

Pick one model from your 2010 line up. Doesn't matter which one. Just pick one. Any one.

Build that vehicle entirely in the USA. Make sure that every piece, every part, every nut, bolt washer and grommet, every seal, o-ring, and bearing, from the tires, right up to the radio antenna, and everything in between are made in the USA.

Make a truly American Made car.

I know that you can't do that with every vehicle you sell right now. I understand that it just wouldn't be feasible or practical, at this point. But do it with one. If you can only afford to make a few thousand of them, that's fine. Make as many as you can. But make them in the United States of America. Don't put a single foreign part, piece or component on that car anywhere.

STEP 2

Stand behind that car.

Forget about this 36,000 mile thing, or this five year power train thing, or any of the other gimmicky things that means you will weasel out of making a warranty repair. Truly stand behind that car. 10 years, or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. Anything goes wrong, fix it.

Don't squabble, don't dicker or bicker, don't weasel, don't make excuses, or offer long explanations about how or why it's not truly a warranty issue. Just fix it.

Again, I don't expect you to stand behind every car you make, at least not at first. But stand behind the True American Car. Let the American people know that you have faith in them. That you believe in them. That you stand behind America, just like you are asking America to stand behind you right now.

As an American, and as a resident of Michigan, I stand firmly behind the Auto Industry.

I recognise the contribution the industry has made to our state, our nation and our world.

I understand that the industry has done so much, for so long, for so many, that it is only fair that we, as Americans give some back.

But I just want to make sure that all this talk of "We can do it" and "Get our rally caps on" is sincere, and not just some empty rhetoric, dreamed up by an ad man in a back office.

Step up to the plate folks. Show us you mean it.

Make an American car and stand behind it.

That's my challenge.

If you agree, please pass this along.
If you strongly agree, print it out and mail it.

Here is some information:

Ford Motor Company
Customer Relationship Center
P.O. Box 6248
Dearborn, MI 48126

General Motors Corporation
P.O. Box 33170
Detroit, MI 48232-5170