Chrysler has found themselves at number 56 on the Fortune magazine list of the 101 Dumbest Moments in Business for 2007, because of a viral ad the company commissioned for its Dodge Nitro SUV.
Earlier this year, a viral ad for the Dodge Nitro began making rounds on the internet. The advertisement featured a red Dodge Nitro minding its own business, until an American Bulldog walks into frame looking for a place to relieve itself. After sniffing the front passenger tire of the Nitro for a second, the dog raises its hind leg and begins peeing on the SUV.
The SUV, clearly upset by this turn of events, fires a fierce bolt of electricity at the dog, striking it dead. The without mercy SUV then fires a second bolt, scorching the dog to a nice crispy black. The tagline appears: Dodge Nitro. Charged With Adrenaline.
Animal rights groups complained, and after a few weeks of the ad circulating around the intertubes DaimlerChrysler pulled the spot. The company tried to claim they did not have full knowledge of the ad's existence. The commercial was made by BBDO Netherlands.
The ad has disappeared from YouTube, with Chrysler claiming using their ownership of the copyright to keep the ad from resurfacing. If you would like to see the spot, our friends at Jalopnik still have it up on their site.
Chrysler Named No.56 On 101 Dumbest Moments In Business List
Dodge Nitro death blow
By Zack Newmark
December 18, 2007 11:53 AM
Filed Under: American, Chrysler, Corporate/Financial, Dodge
Comments
wolff
December 18, 2007 3:01 PM
i think all American auto companies deserve to be in this list!! lol!
Joe_Limon
December 18, 2007 5:30 PM
I think compact European car companies deserve to be on that list. But that doesn't mean there isn't a market for cars I consider crap. Just keep your opinion to yourself next time and I will to.
wolff
December 18, 2007 6:21 PM
American cars n their ads!! i wonder how they sell those monstorously huge cars n talk about the bad effects of global warming at the same time!! crazy cars n people!! :D no offences meant!!
magoo
December 19, 2007 8:07 AM
Global warming.(you can believe it if you like)But its all BS.The Earth Naturally goes through cycles.Its totally normal for the earth to warm and cool at different times.Its been proven by some scientists.I wonder if some New Yorkers and illinois residednts still believe in the Global Warming theory with all the snow they are getting right now.
Ben-zo
December 18, 2007 6:36 PM
wolff, how can you call a whole nation "crazy...people" and claim no offense meant? Mercedes, Ferrari, and every other big european manufacturer produce cars with huge engines and terrible mileage just the same, so don't place all the blame on americans. btw, that commercial was stupid
magoo
December 19, 2007 8:10 AM
I second that.The Porche does not get good milage.Not suppose to.Actually a Porche 911 is actually a heavy car.they are built to withstand hard crashes.
puddingpuppet
December 18, 2007 7:11 PM
People need to lighten the f*** up. Only animal rights groups would think that pretending to harm an animal (in a completely ridiculous and obviously fake way, mind you) is wrong. I love how they claim to be so liberal, but if you do something they don't like they're up in arms demanding an apology or for something to be pulled. Yeah great way to support free speech.
FOXHOUND
December 18, 2007 10:11 PM
i agree puddingpuppet people are soooooo sensitive these days, they can't take a joke, i mean its not like they killed a real dog or anything. those animal rights people have tooooo much time on their hands.
foose1397
December 18, 2007 11:08 PM
Well spoken by both foxhound and puddingpuppet. People can't make a joke about anything, without getting sued, listed, or torched (kinda, only with words). Its pathetic how crazy Americans have become about this. But Im still gonna say Dodge needs help all around
magoo
December 19, 2007 8:55 AM
Its unfair to call a certain group like CRAZY AMERICANS.Its people all over the world not ONLY Americans.We are different here just like people in Japan,Germany,France and so on.
foose1397
December 19, 2007 10:29 PM
What ever you say, magoo you prove my point..somebody has to make a comment on generalizations..yeah we know that japan, germany, and france are different. All i know is commercials can be funny if people would let them be
MiracleWhipp
December 18, 2007 11:32 PM
Wolff, that global warming comment was a real zinger...how many V-12's do American car companies make? And what is the percentage of cars in Europe that spew deisel filth into the air?
Alfafox5
December 19, 2007 1:58 AM
The Dodge ad was lame, but then 54% of Americans have a pet, so it was not the best angle for a 'Tough' car! About the Diesel comment... it is an engine designed for Peanut farmers to grow their own fuel, for the Paris Worlds Fair... ages ago. The 'dirt' from a diesel is only caused by the fact that lame Oil and Gas CO's. co-opted the brilliant diesel engine to sell the left-overs from making gas. I just hate how people make the Diesel the bad guy... it is a briliant engine that lasts for ages, and still manages to plow fields in a tractor or barrel down the highway in a BMW for more miles than most Petrol pots, all while being able to be run on grease, organic oil, and other clean burning tech. Do more research and you'll see why Hybrids are such a scam when the answer was built over a hundred years ago.
Peace!
wolff
December 19, 2007 11:56 AM
i totally agree that there r a lot of big V-12s in the European market, but i'm sure they r more fuel efficient than those gas guzzling v-8s produced in America!! :O come on, y do u need such huge cars n suvs n such huge engines?? :O in that sense i really feel some of the smaller cars do the job better!!
n the Earth does go through a cycle of heating n supercooling, i agree!! but wat we r doing here is that we r quickening the process!! :O n making the situation worse!! n if it snows in places, doesnt mean its not warming up!! the whole climatic cycle has changed!! its raining where i stay, when its not the rainy season at all!! :O
n yea, y do u have to bring in the poor animal there, n kill it!! Chrysler has really lost it!! :P
MiracleWhipp
December 21, 2007 11:33 PM
reply to wollf...american cars come from the evolution of american car requirements. we have a LOT of land in this county...long open roads, high winds. a fiat 500 ain't gonna get you 200 miles accross kansas in the wind very safely, comfortably or quickly. i think europeans don't quite get this. smaller cars are for small places. we have those too.
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