Well, this is just how Trump hopes companies will respond. I'm not sure it will be enough..as there are a lot of factors facing anyone thinking about buying a car right now.
But for the moment..Ford is a bargain..and soon to be the MAGA vehicle of choice. The 'Made in America, Sold in America' advertising meme may have legs.
A very smart move by Ford..IMO.
In new ad campaign promoting Ford's U.S. manufacturing footprint, the automaker looks to gain a competitive advantage during the turbulent times.
www.freep.com
Ford Motor Co. wants U.S. customers to know it is the dominant American car company by pushing that message in a new ad campaign that promotes the automaker's U.S. footprint. The campaign is also going to offer car buyers discounts across much of the Ford and Lincoln lineup.
The automaker is launching "From America, For America" on Thursday, the day President Donald Trump's tariffs will be enacted on the auto industry. The campaign will run in traditional print media advertisements, television spots and social media, said Rob Kaffl, Ford's director of U.S. sales.
As part of the campaign, Ford will offer its employee-pricing plan, known as the A Plan, to consumers on most of Ford 2024 and 2025 model year vehicles through June 2. Ford is also extending to June 30 the program that offers a free home charger and complimentary installation to those people who purchase or lease an all-electric vehicle.
Ford wants to drum up business and get out ahead of any impact caused by the tariffs — which Trump said would be on imported cars and imported auto parts — by attracting car buyers to Ford first.
Ford can afford to offer the discount right now because it has plenty of inventory of new vehicles at dealerships, Kaffl said.
"We’ve got a very healthy stock," Kaffl told the Free Press, referring to new vehicle inventory. "We’re in a very competitive position in our stock. And the auto sector, and overall public, has seen a lot of uncertainty in the market right now especially in the automotive space. So we feel by providing this message in 'From America, For America,' we’re providing some security.”
The "From America, For America" campaign spot starts off showing a Ford dealership and then an announcer asks: "Which automaker employs the most hourly autoworkers in the country? Ford. Which automaker assembles the most vehicles in the country? Ford. That's not a coincidence. It's a commitment. And, now at this unprecedented moment in automotive history, who benefits from Ford's commitment to America for over 120 years? You."
Ford is now offering employee pricing on all its vehicles except the F-150 Raptors, 2025 Super Duty pickups, Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator large SUVs, Kaffl said. It also excludes Ford's fleet vehicles.
