Paging Dr. Z: Chrysler Invites Customers To E-Mail the Chairman

EDMUNDS, AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Chrysler launched an interactive Web site called "Ask Dr. Z.com" on July 1 that lets customers e-mail DaimlerChrysler Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche.

The site features a friendly caricature of the chairman, complete with his distinctive mustache.The Web site complements Chrysler's new ad blitz, which features Zetsche in a series of humorous TV commercials that emphasize Chrysler's ties to its German parent. The automaker has conducted market research that showed Zetsche has broad appeal with U.S. customers, according to the Detroit News.

Zetsche's face is also displayed on a big banner that was wrapped around the company's headquarters building here on Thursday.Zetsche ran Chrysler Group until he was promoted to the top of the German-American company last year.The new Web site will feature a mix of company information and sweepstakes. It will be run by a team of Chrysler Group employees.

What this means to you: OK, the first question we want to ask Dr. Z is this: When will you build the Chrysler Firepower?