DETROIT (April 22, 2010) — General Motors Co. is using a TV commercial starring CEO Ed Whitacre to spread the word that it has paid back loans to U.S. and Canadian governments.
In the commercial—Mr. Whitacre's second since becoming chairman of GM last summer—the CEO points to the repayment of the loans as a sign that GM is using the government investment to become successful.
He acknowledges that many Americans didn't agree with the government's bailout of GM.
“Quite frankly, I can respect that,” he says in the ad.
But he says GM is putting people back to work and invites the public to check out the “new GM.”
“Our goal,” Mr. Whitacre says, “is to exceed every expectation you've set for us.”
The commercial—which shows Mr. Whitacre talking about the company's rebirth as he walks through a GM plant—hit networks at noon April 21, and runs through April 27, GM a spokeswoman said.
Mr. Whitacre first starred in the auto maker's “May the Best Car Win” commercial last year, saying in the spots that at first he had doubts about the company.
This report appeared in Automotive News, a Detroit-based sister publication of Tire Business.