Several automakers have been quick to reevaluate their advertising relationships with Twitter now that the social media giant is controlled by one of their most significant competitors: Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk.
Here’s what some have said so far.
Volkswagen Group: The German automaker said Friday that it has recommended its brands pause paid advertising on Twitter until further notice in the wake of Musk’s takeover.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and will decide about next steps depending on its evolvement,” Europe’s top carmaker said in a statement.
Ford Motor Co.: A spokesperson told CNBC last week that the automaker is not currently advertising on the platform and had not been before Musk’s deal.
General Motors: The largest U.S. automaker said Oct. 28 that it had temporarily halted paid advertising on Twitter after Musk completed his takeover.
GM said it was “engaging with Twitter to understand the direction of the platform under their new ownership. As is normal course of business with a significant change in a media platform, we have temporarily paused our paid advertising.”
Stellantis: The carmaker said Wednesday that it monitored all social media channels that involved its brands and would continue to do so in the wake of the new leadership at Twitter, where the world’s fourth-largest carmaker would be “vigilant.”
American Honda: The U.S. unit of Honda Motor Co. said Nov. 4: “We have advertised on Twitter in the past and continually evaluate our paid social media strategy. Right now, Twitter is not a part of our mix.”
Nissan Motor Co.: The company declined to comment on Twitter advertising specifically, but released a statement saying Nissan will “regularly evaluate and adjust advertising efforts, regarding how and where we showcase Nissan’s product portfolio, to best connect with consumers.”
Hyundai Motor Co.: The Korean automaker said Oct. 31 that it “is carefully tracking any changes on Twitter, as we do with all marketing platforms, to ensure it remains an appropriate part of our marketing and communications strategy.”
Toyota Motor Corp. has not responded to multiple requests for comment from Ad Age, an affiliate of Automotive News.
Reuters and Ad Age contributed to this report.