Ad watchdog Truth in Advertising (TINA.org) said on October 18, 2023 that it filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission against BMW over deceptive Made in USA claims. The group said BMW markets its X models as made at its plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, but the vehicles are assembled with many imported parts or are fully imported.
What TINA.org found
- The FTC standard says “made,” “manufactured” or “built” in the USA means all or virtually all of the product is made here.
- TINA.org said the “most American” 2023 X model, the X3, has only 40 percent U.S./Canadian content, based on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data.
- It found more than 500 2023 X models for sale at U.S. dealers that were built in Germany or South Africa.
- The complaint came almost a year after TINA.org sent BMW a warning letter.
TINA.org noted that in 2019 Mercedes-Benz stopped a campaign that called its Sprinter van “built in the USA” after a TINA.org inquiry.
“American consumers, who prefer products that are made in the U.S. and are even willing to pay a premium for them, deserve truthful origin marketing from the auto industry.”
Bonnie Patten, Executive Director, TINA.org
FAQ
Who filed the complaint?
Truth in Advertising (TINA.org), a nonprofit ad watchdog.
What is the issue?
BMW markets X models as made in South Carolina, but TINA.org says they use large shares of imported parts or are fully imported.
What is the FTC standard?
All or virtually all of the product must be made in the USA.
Source & credit
Source: TINA.org via GlobeNewswire, October 18, 2023: “Ad Watchdog TINA.org Reports BMW to Regulators for Deceptive Made in USA Claims”.