Mercedes: Our cancellation of 2GB was commercial not political
Mercedes has moved to clarify its involvement in the Alan Jones controversy after it emerged that the company’s Sydney dealerships had cancelled their commercial arrangement with radio 2GB before the presenter made his comments in a speech about Julia Gillard’s father dying of shame.
As Mumbrella reported on Monday, the Sydney Mercedes dealer groups gave notice on September 19. Jones’ comments did not hit the press until September 30 and Mercedes went public about 48 hours later saying it had instructed its dealer groups not to advertise.
Last night, Mercedes issued the following statement:
Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific wishes to communicate the Company’s position which is in line with its Corporate Values and the Company’s global integrity code.
Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific cancelled its corporate sponsorship contract with 2GB on 1st October 2012 giving 28 days’ notice.
Separately there was an advertising contract with 2GB and our NSW Dealers. We now understand that this contract was cancelled on or about 19 September 2012 giving 28 days’ notice of this to 2GB.
The Company advised our NSW dealers on 1st October 2012, that we had withdrawn our approval for them to advertise with 2GB with immediate effect to ensure that no further advertising was to take place on 2GB.
These decisions were commercial decisions and were in no way politically motivated as inferred by some media outlets.
Every Mercedes-Benz Executive involved has acted in accordance with our corporate values with the requisite authority and the full support of the Company’s Board of Management.
“Companies with global operations need universally applicable values and standards of conduct, which provide support and show the way in day-to-day business. It is about a collective understanding of right and wrong – regardless of the field we work in or the continent where we operate.
Daimler strives to establish an ethical corporate culture in which employees act in accordance with shared values. We expect such conduct from all our employees as well as from our business partners. This includes contractual partners such as joint venture partners, authorized dealers, general distributors, suppliers and body builders, as well as sales, marketing and sponsorship partners.”
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The idea of a European luxury vehicle advertising to a xenophobic audience with a victim mentality seems commercially silly in the first place.
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Of course it was.
Talk about mountains and molehills.
Next story please.
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Our contracts with multinationals include supplier obligations for all sorts if things from environmental policies to ethical business standards. Are these “standard” terms used in advertising contracts? If not I suspect they will be soon.
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My cat’s breath smells like cat’s food.
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@Hugo
Most Mercedes drivers I know are up themselves; materialistic, vein, pretentious, erm ‘TW@TS’. As are most drivers of Lexus and BMW for that matter.
Oh, and don’t get me started on Porsche Cayenne’s (Tw@t mobiles).
It is definately the right radio station to reach an audience of Tw@t’s for sure, so I would say commercially, it is the perfect demographic for any of the above brands.
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Haha, Fair point beg to differ.
I don’t know any Mercedes drivers personally – but I had suspicions they would either be cosmopolitan – or at least like to think they are. So I would have thought right wing econcomics would sit well with them, but not racism.
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@Dude raises a fair point.
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Hope they’ve got reversing lights, they backtracked over their story so quickly.
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@ Beg to differ
While we’re all generalising here, most Mercedes drivers know how to spell correctly and DEFINITELY know the correct use of ‘vain’ and ‘vein’.
If you want to @Beg to differ, don’t dumb it down by not knowing the difference between your homonyms.
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Sorry Mercedes & Mumbrella – I’m not buying the backtrack.
Mercedes, whilst David McCarthy is still in your employ, and until your politicising of your business ceases, I’ll boycott those who boycott Jones and 2GB.
Farewell Daimler.
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@C’mon
I used to be top at school when it came to spelling, I blame the drink…
Oops I did mean vain, I ‘definitely’ didn’t mean blood vessel? My bad and thanks for the heads up.
He he: There is a sign up in the foyer of my unit block today, concerning some bad form from a resident, which happens to read:
“……..In fact, until last Friday, a silver Mercedes reg no (edited) was permanently parked in the visitors car park for at least 12 consecutive days blocking the car park for use by other residents’ visitors.”
Toodles
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@Jen i’m sure Merc Benz is really cut-up about you not buying any more of their vehicles, you tough-talker, you.
you were probably disappointed in your Maybach anyway and are happy to pull the pin on that black S500 with the bullet-proof glass
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I believe an audit on station preferences are done by these high end car companies at service and they show that nearly all stations are set on ABC702. Could be a good commercial decision to move away from radio all together.
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Corporate values and global integrity?
Has anyone asked Mercedes Benz who their brand ambassadors were back in the 1930’s? Yep – they presented them with new cars and took photos for the marketing campaign too.
Hint: They wore spiffy uniforms and were anything but nice to Jewish people.
Worth mentioning because Mercedes still hasn’t apologised, nor repudiated their choice. 80+ years and we’re still waiting………
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Mercedes buyers will still buy Mercedes even if they are ardent Alan Jones fans.
People don’t buy Mercedes because they are a sensible car purchase – they pay a large premium for prestige and the right to be a little smug as they look out at the lesser people through the 3 pointed star,
Mercedes will be fine.
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@ Bob, I tend to disagree with you there. I wont buy a Merc because ‘boofheads’ drive them. (Bogans.)
It’s a bit like Burberry in the UK. The chavs got hold of it and put off the people who could afford it.
Merc’s, Beemers, Lexus and Porsche Cayenne’s = boofhead mobiles.
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