agent Entrepreneur logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Report: Biggest Automakers Dropped U.S. Ad Spending by Nearly 23% in 2009

June 21, 2010
2 min to read


The biggest automakers in the U.S.market spent nearly 23 percent less last year on measured media advertising -- no surprise in a year when auto sales fell 21 percent to the lowest level since 1982, according to a newly published analysis.


Total advertising spending among the top 100 advertisers in the United States fell 10 percent in 2009, Advertising Age, a sister publication of Automotive News, reported today in its “100 Leading National Advertisers” issue.

Ad Loading...


The drop in advertising reflects the sharp decline in consumer spending last year.


Procter & Gamble Co. topped the list with ad spending of $4.2 billion last year, down 13 percent. It was followed by Verizon and AT&T Corp.


Nine automotive companies made the list, and all except Volkswagen showed a significantly steeper-than-average decline in advertising spending in 2009.


Measured ad spending in the automotive industry is the second-largest advertising category after retail, says Ad Age.


The nine automakers on the list collectively spent $8.58 billion on all advertising last year, down 23 percent from $11.18 billion in 2009.

Ad Loading...


Even with a brief stint in bankruptcy last year, General Motors Co. retained its No. 4 ranking on the list, despite a 22 percent drop in advertising spending to $2.21 billion last year.


Ford Motor Co., the only one of the Detroit 3 not to go bankrupt last year, fell to 15th place from 13th place a year earlier. It spent $1.52 billion, a decline of about 18 percent.


Toyota Motor Corp. ranked 24th, down from 19th place. It spent $1.29 billion, a drop of 18 percent.


Spending at American Honda Motor Co. declined 25 percent to $935.9 million. Honda fell 10 spots on the list to 36th.


Chrysler Group was 43rd, down from 36th, and spending dropped 27 percent to $824.6 million.

Ad Loading...


Nissan Motor Co.'s rank and spending tumbled the most among automakers on the Ad Age list. Nissan ranked 54th, down from 31st in 2008, with a 42 percent spending decline to $690.9 million.


Hyundai Motor Co. spent $401.7 million in 2009, a decline of about 22 percent that put it in 84th place, down from 73rd in 2008.


Volkswagen AG rose to 88th place from 90th in 2008. VW's spending fell only about 10 percent to $368 million.


Daimler AG, the last car company on the list, fell to 99th place from 84th. Its spending totaled $338.5 million, down 22 percent from 2008.


More Industry

Photo of two men in suit jackets shaking hands next to new car inside of a dealership
IndustryApril 23, 2026

A New Consumer Culture in the Auto Dealership

Dealers should aim to build a positive work environment, helping employees execute an efficient experience, from their online research to the final delivery of the vehicle.

Read More →
Closeup of the side of an Audi car
Industryby Hannah MitchellApril 23, 2026

New-Vehicle Sales Down

A cloudy April forecast was expected due to last April’s sales surge in anticipation of U.S. trade tariff-inflated prices. Meanwhile, automakers pumped up incentives to address today’s consumer wallet woes.

Read More →
Photo of Cadillac Lyriq SUV on road with partly cloudy sky in background
Industryby Hannah MitchellApril 16, 2026

Used Autos Selling for More

A recent price spike due to several larger market forces, though it hasn’t dulled demand, is pushing more consumers to efficient models to squeeze in buys.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of facade of Waldorf Toyota car dealership
Industryby Hannah MitchellApril 16, 2026

Maryland Auto Group Sells

A group out West picked up the major D.C.-area collection, putting it in the upper tiers of private automotive groups in the U.S.

Read More →
Line graphic showing Cox Automotive's March Credit Availability Index status
Industryby Hannah MitchellApril 13, 2026

Auto Lending Opens Up in March

Lenders loosened access for subprime borrowers, and consumers with negative equity reached a record high, Cox Automotive reported.

Read More →
electric vehicle next to an urban charging station. EV Demand Diverges. F&I and Showroom logo
Industryby Lauren LawrenceApril 10, 2026

EV Interest Varies Regionally

U.S. consumer interest in electric vehicles lags behind other countries despite the rising gas prices caused by the ongoing war in the Middle East.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of the rear of a Mercedes GLC 400 electric SUV with a skyline in the background
Industryby Hannah MitchellApril 10, 2026

Brands Weighed on Projected Recalls

Research reveals the brands and models most likely to have higher recall rates over their lifetimes. While some brands rank high, addressing safety issues can be a selling point.

Read More →
Photo of white 2026 Ford Bronco on a sandy beach
Industryby Hannah MitchellApril 10, 2026

March New-Vehicle Sales Don’t Reflect War

Cox Automotive data shows Americans doubled down on big-is-better despite price increases. Slightly higher incentives helped fuel the demand.

Read More →
Photo of several cars on lifts in a service center
Industryby Hannah MitchellApril 9, 2026

Franchised Dealers Stand to Gain Service Business

Cox Automotive research shows both the opportunities and the challenges in turning consumers’ growing affordability needs into increased fixed-operations revenue.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of office desk with open laptop on it and an empty chair next to it
IndustryApril 9, 2026

What Matters Most in Building Your Agency

The partner you choose for growth and expansion is key, because better is the ultimate goal instead of growth for growth’s sake.

Read More →