Mercedes-Benz owner Daimler apologizes again for Instagram post quoting Dalai Lama
The art of grovelling
With one grovelling apology apparently not enough, Mercedes-Benz owner Daimler has apologized yet again to the Chinese people for an Instagram ad that featured a quote from the Dalai Lama.
On Wednesday, Daimler’s Chairman Dieter Zetsche and Daimler Greater China’s Chairman Hubertus Troika sent a letter of apology to the Chinese ambassador to Germany, according to China’s official Xinhua news agency. While that letter has not been published publicly, here’s a run-down of its contents from Chinese state media:
They said Daimler has no intention of questioning or challenging in any manner China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
They said Daimler offers no support, assistance, aid or help to anyone who intentionally subverts or attempts to subvert China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Daimler deeply regrets the hurt and grief that its negligent and insensitive mistake has caused to the Chinese people.
Daimler fully and unreservedly recognizes the seriousness of the situation, which the company has caused and sincerely apologizes for.
The apparently offensive ad in question that was posted to Instagram on Monday shows a white car on a sandy beach below the Dalai Lama’s words: “Look at situations from all angles, and you will become more open.”
While Instagram is blocked in China, Mercedes-Benz still decided to remove the post on Tuesday as its page was bombarded with angry comments from Chinese net users, and then issued a statement on its official Weibo account, expressing its sincerest apologies for “hurting the feelings of the Chinese people” with the “extremely wrong message.”
“Taking this incident as a guide, we will immediately take practical actions to deepen our understanding of Chinese culture and values — including for our overseas colleagues — and regulate our behavior to prevent such incidents from occurring again,” the apology read.
When asked about Mercedes-Benz’s apology at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Wednesday, China’s foreign ministry said that “admitting and correcting mistakes is a basic principle of doing business.”
Earlier that morning, the People’s Daily had published an editorial calling the German auto brand the “enemy of the people.” Beijing regards the Dalai Lama as a separatist and “wolf in monk’s robes.”
“Tolerance is a virtue of the Chinese culture, but tolerance has its limits. How will the German people react if a foreign enterprise speaks highly of Adolf Hitler and propagates his quotes, or worships views that try to separate German?” asked the state media publication.
Mercedes-Benz is just the latest international company to have issued an embarrassing apology after accidentally “challenging China’s core interests.” Last month, international brands like Marriott, Delta, and Zara also apologized for hurting the feelings of the Chinese people after being exposed for listing Taiwan and/or Tibet as “countries” on their websites.
“Marriott International respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China. We don’t support separatist groups that subvert the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China. We sincerely apologize for any actions that may have suggested otherwise,” the hotel chain tweeted after being outed.
