General Motors has recently found itself in an unwanted predicament, as it is now being accused of lying about its new automobile. GM's new automobile, the Chevrolet Volt, has been advertised as an "all electrically-driven vehicle". However this is not true as the Chevrolet Volt contains a gasoline engine that aids some functions of the car. GM hid the fact that the gasoline engine is connected to the drive train, making it more appealing to the public.
GM's defense in this accusation is that they did not want to share this information about the Volt because they feared that other car manufacturers would steal the idea, so they waited for patent approvals. This is unfortunate because it an "all-electric car" would have been an amazing innovation to the Automotive Industry. It would have opened many opportunities for the future of the industry.
This is an ethical issue in the Automotive Industry because GM was allowed to falsely advertise. This created a positive reception from the public, which was looking forward to this product. Should GM be punished for a inaccurate advertisements and marketing strategies?
Patrick Mehlert
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703440004575548461540233810.html?mod=WSJ_auto_IndustryCollection
I saw the concept Volt at the 200(7 or 8) auto show in Chicago. They had split up the car into sections to expose the interior. I asked what the tank was for and they said gas, and explained the situation with gas power. It seemed like a cool idea. I was aware only because I saw the gas tank in the concept car.
ReplyDeleteBut I think it's wrong for GM to not bring that to attention in advertising. They obviously had this in their plans as far back as the concept car, and should really have made this apparent to consumers. I don't know why GM would keep this information under the table, as I think people might like this feature; what happens when your battery runs out of juice?
GM should have waited for their patent approvals and not advertised as having an “all electrically-driven vehicle.” It was not ethical for GM to falsely advertise. It is acceptable that they are under fire. GM misled the public about the Volt's power because GM touted that it was a breakthrough car that wasn't like a plug-in Hybrid. The Volt is criticized to be basically nothing more than a sophisticated hybrid car. GM was also not honest because the Volt isn't as original or gas-mileage economical as advertized to be. The reality of the Volt is exactly the opposite of what it was hyped to be. GM made a huge mistake by incorrectly advertising their car as such because it created a sour name for them. Reputation is everything.
ReplyDeleteIrene Kalis