Who is Dr. Z?

We just saw a preview of the slew of new commercials hyping Chrysler’s new Employee Pricing Plus sale featuring a German-accented Chrysler executive named Dr. Z. The commercials do a great job of hammering home the Dr. Z name, but the everyday car buyer out there might not know the man behind the mustache.

Dieter Zetsche is the chairman of DaimlerChrysler, the parent company of Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge, as well as Meredes-Benz. Before he took over that job he headed the Chrysler Group and was the driving force behind the resurgence of those three American brands, where he infused Mercedes engineering into cars like the Chrysler 300. So think of him as the Lee Iacocca of this relatively new German/American company.

We’re not sure if America will find these commercials quite as funny as industry insiders who have grown accustomed to Zetsche’s heavy accent and quick wit. Especially NASCAR Nation, where two Dodge cars will get Dr. Z artwork. But at least now you know who the heck is trying to sell you a car. Click through for samples of the new ad campaign and Kasey Kahne's new ride.

Yep. That's the Hemi guy directing Dr. Z

This "pesky" reporter gets a joyride care of Dr. Z.

NASCAR fans will get the Dr.Z treatment too. Although we think the cartoon version would work better on the hood.

Comments

[adverlicious]

FYI, here's Chrysler's new online ad featuring Dr. Z and the askdrz.com website --

http://adverlicio.us/daimler_chrysler_askdrz_com_the_doctor_is_in_300x250

Plenty of other auto-related online ads here as well --

http://adverlicio.us/auto

Enjoy!

[RICHARD ST.ANTOINE]

THE SMART CAR SOON TO APPEAR IN THE UNITED STATES AND THEY WILL SELL LIKE CRAZY WITH GAS ABOUT $4.00 A GALLON.THEY HAVE UNIQUE VEHICLES PT CRUISER,VIPER,PROWLER ,CALIBER, 300, PACIFICA,MAGNUM CROSSFIRE,ASPEN,CHARGER,TOWN AND COUNTRY,HEMI AND DIESEL PICKUPS.THE LARGEST PRODUCER OF LARGE FLEET VEHICLES.A COMPANY THAT IS WILLING TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT.YOU WILL NEVER SEE FORDS TRY ANYTHING OUT THERE (DIFFERENT) A WAY TO CONSERVATE COMPANY.

[jeff]

I think 'Dr. Z' is the most ANNOYING thing i have ever seen on a commercial. It comes on atleast once a commercial break... and it is beyond stupid.

[Abby Conley]

I don't like the non stop commercials of Dr. Z. In fact, I can't stand them anymore. Please tell someone to stop running them!

[Stephen]

I like the concept, but the Ad Agency they hired should be fired for poor work and research as well as anything else that goes into cleverness. I have a feeling it's BBDO but who knows. They suck as an agency, along with most of the aother big ones... since younger talent these days are just stupid people. Dumb commercials... Mercedes is a sell-out company and I would never buy either of these cars, DodgeMercedes junk... even though... before the merge, I was a dedicated Mercedes owner. Joke!

[gerald owens]

The Dr. Z commercials are my favorite commercials. I generally do not like commercials at all. But his are great. He is personable and funny.

[Carol Pattillo]

Dr. Z,
Will you marry me? I'm beautiful, smart, and old enough to write this kind of message and not worry what others will think.
Carol

[georgs]

Isnt dr. z. turkish? I saw that he was born in turkey, so why is he on a german car company comercial

[Ladybug]

The most annoying commercials on TV. Everytime one comes on, I'm waiting for them to mention Volkswagen, not Dodge or whatever brand he is selling. They make zero sense to me.

[kruzzle]

To GEORGS' previous comment. Good question. Yes, Dr. Z was born in Istanbul, Turkey in 1955. His family moved to Germany in 1957. He grew up and got his education there; and probably took on German citizenship as well.
I love Dr. Z.

[Phil]

Dr. Z is very annoying. Thank God for the remote, I can switch channels very fast and ignore him. Think it is time for him to get a real job and leave tv alone.

[loveit]

I'd like to smoosh that latest sinister little geico thing into gecko heaven together with campbell's possibilities et al, but absolutely love Dr. Z, enjoy every one, usually better than the show is, love the football head shot--come on over, Dr. Z!

[Dr. Z]

Dr. Z Sucks,

What are you guys thinking with these ads? This Dr. Z guy makes anyone who ones one of these cars feel like a fool. Plus the ads stink. Tell me again why I would want one of these cars?

Dr. Z Sucks as a spokes person

[Steven K.II]

hey contrairy to a few of your comments ,
DaimlerChrysler is a great company and who cares about their marketing. the car itself is well built (like it or not): go to consumer reports.com and see for your self .Still not conviced then get off your lazy pesamistic butt's and test drive one yourselves.

HA HA!!

[joe]

I think this type of commercial featuring Dr. Z is great. Its about time they try to make this company a bit more personable.

[Mark]

HOW CAN I GET A PERSONALIZED AUTOGRAPH OICTURE OF DR. Z SENT TO ME?

[Mark]

The question I asked a autographed picture of Dr. Z SENT TO MY HOME ADDRESS?

[Gary Kipp]

Dear Mr. Zetsche
You missed your calling,but you probably already knew that. I enjoy your comercials.

Gary Kipp

[BV]

Dr. Z,
Sie sind das beste. Großes ADS.

[rickirick]

These ads are clearly an inside joke gone bad. I'm not much of a fan of Chrysler products, but I am far, far less likely to consider their cars after seeing these ads.

Most of Chrysler's remaining customers are older "Buy American" types, many still with residual WWII feelings, so I can't believe an ad agency would go out of their way to point out that Chrysler is a GERMAN company. Crazy.

[me]

Do you know who henry ford is? and the modleA?

thank you
me

[me]

Do you know who henry ford is? and the modleA?

thank you
me

[Rebecca from Bellbrook, Ohio]

I think the Dr. Z commercials are funny and entertaining. Yes, it comes on several time per commercial break, but I especially see it early in the morning and Dr. Z gets my day off on the right foot. I think he's very cute and I like them. So there.....

[Eric]

Please take Dr. Z off the air. I can't stand these commercials and have to chage the station everytime I see this guy. Dr. Z go run the company and let actors sell your cars!

[Dr. Z Must Die]

They need to fire the agency and get the guys who came up with the "Unpimp Zee Auto" bit for VW.

Those are effective.

Dr. NaZi is what they should call him.

[Kip]

Lighten Up, Dr. Z nay-sayers. Dr. Z is an obvious attempt by DC to energize folks, both internal work force and as the customer. Using a proven "Lee Iacocca" type commercial, where your #1 employee is shilling for the company, proved effective then and serves us as well now. It uplifts the work force that they see their Boss out there selling product and shos the customer a degree of conviction / belief in their product by getting "up front anbd personal" in selling such to YOU.

At least there is a face to DC and Ford vs. what I see for GM. Bill Ford is selling his wears on TV, as does Dr. Z. Bravo to both. Thus, who's really out of step here? Mr. Wagner, GM's #1 employee, who's only visible face for GM is on updates of their rush to bankruptcy (or return from the brink thereof)?!

[bhammitt]

Your commericals are very abnoxious. When they come on we switch channels. Many of my friends have said they are just over kill; over and over again during the same 30 minute TV show.

Are you so poor that you have to overdo this?

I will NEVER NEVER by a Chrysler product as a result of these stupid commercials, nor will many of my friends.

STOP them NOW! This is America- lets here an American accent- we don't live in Germany. And let's not continue to be bought off by Oil Companies.
Want to sell cars? Have them get better gas mileage; and you won't even have to waste money advertizing. GET a Clue!

[charlotte bielke]

well i'm somewhat older then dr. z--but he is so easy to look at!!!! a new grey power sexy one!!--looking forward to smartcar---pearsonally i think campaging to seinors for this car would be awesome and maybe make a special situation for us to purchase one easier---also maybe make it sort of veragated colors (like siver to black--white to silver --ect --like dr z-hair and mustach ect 00 then unfortunally everyone will want this "sexy little car" and even start a "smarty club"---yep a breath of fine breathing for me----hopefully you also have a good looking driver ( i sort of partial to jamie mcmurry----sincerely---"charlie"

[charlotte bielke]

well i'm somewhat older then dr. z--but he is so easy to look at!!!! a new grey power sexy one!!--looking forward to smartcar---pearsonally i think campaging to seinors for this car would be awesome and maybe make a special situation for us to purchase one easier---also maybe make it sort of veragated colors (like siver to black--white to silver --ect --like dr z-hair and mustach ect 00 then unfortunally everyone will want this "sexy little car" and even start a "smarty club"---yep a breath of fine breathing for me----hopefully you also have a good looking driver ( i sort of partial to jamie mcmurry----sincerely---"charlie"

[Helen, german translator]

They must do something about that decrease of sales they've been experiencing with the new marketing compain.
http://www.all-translations.com/services/german-translation.html

[Cyndi]

Doesn't anybody get the humor. This is a commercial guys not real life, lighten up and enjoy life. These commercials are helarious! I love Dr. Z

[Michael]

I love the commercials.

[Chris Leeman]

I'm sick of being reminded that the guy in charge of Chrysler is a skinny German monopoly guy!

[Larry]

I love Dr. Z. one of the best things to come along in commercials in years. light years ahead of many ads on the tube. A commercial ad with both Lee Iacoca and Dr. Z. in it is just begging to be made.

[keith]

Dear Dr. Z
I like the way you say jeep grand cherokee,oh and your the coolest

[Debbie]

Hmmmm....Dr. Z, you are only eight years older than me. Are you single?
I love the commercials. Way to go Chrysler!

[Not buying it]

Any commercial that tries so hard to undermine my intelligence (and is so terribly annoying) doesn't deserve it's airtime. Putting a couple Mercedes tid-bits on a Dodge does not a Mercedes make. If you put Mercedes struts or headlights on a Kia, it's still a Kia. The only Chrysler that can truly claim to benefit from a great deal of "German engineering" is the Crossfire, and they're not even in the ads.

Plus, the Daimler-Chrysler merger took place in 1998 - does anyone else think that Chrysler should have used this sort of marketing scheme say about 10 years ago? And isn't it odd that Dodge would use this difficult-to-understand European to plug their "All-American" tough-trucks? (Plus, their brief mention of things like "fuel saving MDS"? Come on now, we shouldn't have to get online to figure out what MDS stands for (multi-displacement system))

Dr. Z is off-putting, and he's not a good spokes-person. Look at how he treats the "soccer mom" - he never lets her talk, and doesn't address her questions - she looks perplexed even at the end of the ad. I've heard women say that ad reminds them of how all male car-salesmen treat women - not taking their questions seriously. Who wants to buy a car from that guy?

Plus, when is an American company going to realize that claiming the influence of "German engineering" just isn't enough to make their cars better? Sure, Germans are known for their cars, especially when it comes to tuning a truly performance-oriented vehicle, but they've never matched the Japanese auto-makers' reliability. I mean, just how many people are stupid enough to think "oh man, I've got to go get a Dodge, they're so much better now that Germans have tinkered with them". That's stupid.

[Judy]

Dr. Z - Love your commercials and your style. Need a date, give me a call. By the way, my brother works in your Chrysler museum in Michgan.

[BoognishRising]

I can't stand Dr. Z. I want to take the Geiko lizard, shove it down Dr. Z's throat, and sew his mouth shut.

While I'm venting... Jon Lovitz for Subway. Damn, you suck! I never thought I'd say this, but for God's sake please bring Jared back.

[first]

I loathe dr Z and his pompous germanic diction. Have over used the mute button. He makes me want to stop watching tv altogether and I would NEVER consider buying the product. Annoying, irritating bad bad advertising!!!!!!!Run him over with one of his cars!!!!!

[Greentea]

Who is the woman in the Dr. Z minivan commercial? I wait for the commercials just to see her.

[Willy]

Why does D/C continue to use the redneck characters in their commercials. Do they not realize the message that they are really sending out to the world? It comes through loud and clear that people who like Dodge trucks are ignorant rednecks. I suppose they just wanted truth in advertising.

[Kaye Sharp]

The Dr. Z ads are, in a word, hilarious! I am enchanted to discover he is a bonofide executive and not an actor.

[The H man]

ARE YOU KIDDING ME, I CANT UNDERSTAND AN EFFIN WORD THE GUY IS SAYING. How did the Hemi guy get a job as a director for the commmercials? We are confused by the storyline and actually cant understand the words coming out of his effin mouth. I am sure the sales in Dodge cars have not and will not increase over expected sales growth and I am positive will not track growth equal to Nisaan, Toyota and Honda. So why not focus energy to improve the quality of the car than give us an idiot telling us the trucks are clean? dats a joke? What ?? END THEM NOW WHY YOU MAY STILL BE ABLE TO IMPROVE AUTO SALES BEFORE END OF QUARTER !!! The ones with the dumb ass director trying to ride in a Hemi were much better!

[MushroomPie1]

Dr. Z and Chrysler, you put a smile on my face! Your unique and creative commercials brighten my day. I love the sound of his voice and the expressions in his eyes. Please keep running those commercials and, if you have time, add some more. They're great!

[Charles McGehee]

I love the Dr. Z commercials. They're a breath of fresh air. Let's have more!

[Marilyn]

I am so glad the Dr. Z commercials have stopped and hope to God they do not come back. If your goal was to annoy potential customers to the point of not wanting to buy any of your cars or watch any of your commercials (I too, have worn out my mute button), then mission accomplished.

[Aaron]

If you remember the DR. Z commercial like it or not, you remember Chrysler. That's what commercials try to do, get you do remember the product. Dr. Z moved to Germany when he was three so unless as a baby he had a Turkish accent that's why he sounds German.

[Warren]

I agree with the comments of Debbie and quote her post here.

Posted by: Debbie | Aug 16, 2006 4:58:09 PM

Any commercial that tries so hard to undermine my intelligence (and is so terribly annoying) doesn't deserve it's airtime. Putting a couple Mercedes tid-bits on a Dodge does not a Mercedes make. If you put Mercedes struts or headlights on a Kia, it's still a Kia. The only Chrysler that can truly claim to benefit from a great deal of "German engineering" is the Crossfire, and they're not even in the ads.

Plus, the Daimler-Chrysler merger took place in 1998 - does anyone else think that Chrysler should have used this sort of marketing scheme say about 10 years ago? And isn't it odd that Dodge would use this difficult-to-understand European to plug their "All-American" tough-trucks? (Plus, their brief mention of things like "fuel saving MDS"? Come on now, we shouldn't have to get online to figure out what MDS stands for (multi-displacement system))

Dr. Z is off-putting, and he's not a good spokes-person. Look at how he treats the "soccer mom" - he never lets her talk, and doesn't address her questions - she looks perplexed even at the end of the ad. I've heard women say that ad reminds them of how all male car-salesmen treat women - not taking their questions seriously. Who wants to buy a car from that guy?

Plus, when is an American company going to realize that claiming the influence of "German engineering" just isn't enough to make their cars better? Sure, Germans are known for their cars, especially when it comes to tuning a truly performance-oriented vehicle, but they've never matched the Japanese auto-makers' reliability. I mean, just how many people are stupid enough to think "oh man, I've got to go get a Dodge, they're so much better now that Germans have tinkered with them". That's stupid.

[troy]

There not 1 person on Planet Earth that thinks your commercial are good.

What does 99% of people do when they see Dr.Z on T.V ... MUTE THE T.V

Citi Bank commercial IS NEXT.....MUTE TIME !!!!