Federal Trade Commission
Received Documents
June 7, 1996
P894219
B18354900158

  PERSONAL

MISS JANET D. STEIGER, CHAIRMAN
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION


DEAR MADAM CHAIRMAN:

WHY IS THE FTC CONSTANTLY DEFENDING THE JAPANESE CAR MAKERS TACTICS
OF USING MISLEADING ADVERTISING TO LURE AMERICANS INTO BELIEVING THAT
BUYING THEIR PRODUCTS IS AS BENEFICIAL TO THE U.S.A. AS BUYING GM,
CHRYSLER, OR FORD PRODUCTS.

THE LAST RESPONSE WHICH I RECEIVED FROM THE FTC WAS NOTHING MORE THAN
A LOT OF BUREAUCRATIC DOUBLE TALK.  STATING THAT, AT THE TIME OF
PURCHASE, THERE SHOULD BE A STICKER OR WHATEVER THAT STATES WHERE
THE COMPONENTS WERE MANUFACTURED.  THAT IS LIKE CLOSING THE BARN
DOOR AFTER THE HORSE IS GONE.  THEIR  COMMERCIALS DO THE DAMAGE, TO
LURE BUYERS INTO THEIR SHOWROOMS, THEY STATE THAT THEIR CARS ARE
MADE/BUILT IN AMERICA.

ISN'T THE FTC RESPONSIBLE TO INSURE THAT COMMERCIALS DO NOT CONTAIN
MISLEADING  OR AMBIGUOUS STATEMENTS?  FOR EXAMPLE, ONE TOYOTO
COMMERCIAL STATES THAT THEIR "FLAGSHIP" CAR THE AVALON IS MADE IN
AMERICA.  TOYOTO DOES NOT HAVE A SINGLE MANUFACTURING PLANT IN
AMERICA, LIKE GM, CHRYSLER OR FORD.

THE PRESENT GM SITUATION, WITH THE STRIKE AT ONE OF THEIR COMPONENT
MANUFACTURING PLANTS, IS INDICATIVE OF THE VAST NETWORK OF
MANUFACTURERS WHICH IS REQUIRED TO MAKE/BUILD A CAR.  NO JAPENESE
COMPANY HAS A SINGLE SUCH PLANT IN AMERICA, SO WHY DO YOU LET THEM
SAY, IN THEIR COMMERCIALS, THAT THEIR CARS ARE MADE IN AMERICA?