Made in the USA Foundation Files FTC Complaints Against Chrysler and Ford for Misleading Ads

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ –The Made in the USA Foundation has filed two complaints with the Federal Trade Commission against U.S. auto manufacturers (Ford and Chrysler) for misleading ads, claiming certain vehicles were made in the United States when they were actually imported.

The Foundation filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission against Chrysler Corporation for its television and print ads for the Chrysler 300.  The tagline of the ad states, “Imported from Detroit.”  Joel D. Joseph, general counsel to the Foundation said, “The ads are clever, but they are false.  The Chrysler 300 is made in Canada.  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.”

The complaint against Ford is for a radio advertisement for the Ford Fusion.  The ad states that the Fusion is an American car.  Joseph said, ” The Fusion is made in Mexico, and is not an American car.  The Ford ad misleads and confuses the public and we have asked the Federal Trade Commission to stop the ads.”

The Made in the USA Foundation has also alleged that Chrysler and Ford have stripped country-of-origin information off of these and other cars at the New York, Washington, Detroit and Los Angeles Auto Shows.  Joseph said, “Chrysler and Ford are intentionally misleading consumers by implying all of their vehicles are Made in the USA, when they are not.  To add to their wrongdoing Chrysler and Ford have removed country of origin labels from their car windows at auto shows where millions of consumers get their first look at many new cars.”

The Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1989 and dedicated to promoting American-made products.  Although its initial funding was provided the Ford Motor Company, the Foundation will object when Ford violates the law.