If you think CEOs today play it too safe, watch Lee Iacocca’s 1991 press conference—where he delivered a verbal smackdown on unfair trade, media spin, and the future of American cars.
I currently rank this in my list of “Best Press Conferences Ever”.
Watch the Lee Iacocca Press Conference (1991)
You can watch it for free on YouTube by clicking the video embed above.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 90/100
- IMDB Rating: na
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: na
Release Date: 1991
My Highlights
The Setup
In 1991, Lee Iacocca, then Chairman of Chrysler, delivered a fiery press conference tackling trade policies, the Japanese automotive market, and the state of American manufacturing.
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- On Japanese trade barriers: “Open up your goddamn market the way we’ve opened up ours.”
- On luxury car sales in Japan: “There are two boutique cars over there that are bought for snob appeal…Mercedes and BMW are… for rich, rich people.”
- On Chrysler’s pricing: “We’re up a minuscule 1.6% a year for the last five years—give me a break.”
- On media bias: “We spend $50 million a month in advertising, and Americans still don’t know our cars. That’s our fault.”
More Highlights from the Conference
- Iacocca defended Chrysler’s quality, citing Consumer Reports naming 15 Chrysler models in their recommended list.
- He highlighted unfair trade practices, pointing out that Chrysler sold 50,000 vehicles in Europe but “zero in Japan.”
- He called out journalists for spreading misinformation about price hikes, urging them to “start digging out the facts.”
- He emphasized Chrysler’s strengths in fuel economy, insurance, and maintenance costs, arguing that American cars were just as competitive as imports.
Lesser-Known Details from the Conference
- He criticized the cost of opening dealerships in Japan, where a small dealership could cost $23 million just for land.
- He acknowledged the challenge of rebranding Chrysler, stating that many Americans hadn’t driven one since the early ‘80s.
- He praised Chrysler’s workforce and American manufacturing, insisting that quality had drastically improved.
- His stance on entering the Chinese market was ahead of its time—he refused to agree to technology transfers, unlike later American automakers.
Wrap Up
Lee Iacocca’s 1991 press conference is a masterclass in leadership, straight talk, and defending American industry.
His ability to balance humor, facts, and frustration resonated deeply with viewers. As one commenter put it, “Good lord, I miss this straight-shooting marketing.
You can’t find it anywhere today.”
Whether you agree with his economic views or not, Iacocca’s passion and boldness made this one of the most memorable business press conferences of all time.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc