The Big Three don't exactly embody hipness.
But auto companies are trying in the area of the social media.
The Detroit News reports the automakers have "kicked their use of social media into overdrive" to respond to customer needs.
Melissa Burden of the News writes:
A group of workers for General Motors Co., working under a Social Command Center sign tucked into a corner of a contractor's building in Saginaw Township, scrolls auto enthusiast fan forums, Facebook pages and Twitter to answer customer queries and gripes.
The team offers help, and in turn helps the automaker sell cars and trucks and retain loyal customers.
"It's now becoming a normal part of customer service support," said Paul Alcala, head of customer care for Chrysler Group LLC. "You just have to be in this space now … because there's a certain group of customers that this is the way they want to communicate, and their expectation is that you're going to be there. If you're not, there's a disappointment."
