Car Fight: Chrysler Calls Out Tesla – Who Paid Up First?
Ommm – ummmm
The first thing they drummed into me when I started as a copywriter for Volkswagen: “Never use superlatives. They only get you in trouble.” Now, Elon Musk is in trouble over who was first to fully pay back the government loan.
Yesterday, Tesla wired $452 million to repay the remaining portion of its DOE loan with interest. The company told Reuters it is “the only American car company to have fully repaid the government.”
Chrysler fired back four hours later: “Not exactly, Tesla.”
Having repaid $7.6 billion in federal loans in 2011, Chrysler said today : “Tesla’s information is unmistakably incorrect.”
Musk went on Twitter and came back with a retort that will enrage red, white and blueblooded Chrysler fans. He said Chrysler is no U.S. car company, it is a division of Fiat and besides, Chrysler never fully repaid its loans.
Says Reuters: “The U.S. government recouped about $11.2 billion of its funds. In 2011, Treasury said it is unlikely to fully recover $1.3 billion owed by Old Chrysler.”
All I can say: Stay away from superlatives. They only get you in trouble.
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
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Chrysler paid back what they were legally obligated to first. And yes, as already pointed out, they are a registered U.S. corporation. They are not a division of Fiat, Fiat is a majority stockholder. Musk is really making himself out to be a blaggard by trying to boost his own company's reputation by spouting off falsehoods.
Tesla's over $1B (currently, not counting unfunded liabilities) in the hole to investors. Profitable so that investors get paid back with a return? Never in a bazillion years. Just like GM-Episode II...