Another effect has been to crush the life out of what were once the proudest and most profitable two automobilebrands in the U.S. market, Cadillac and Lincoln.
For the full year, the total number of cars sold at the company slipped 13.3% from 2010, which the company attributed to a downturn in the domestic automobile market and a decline in the overall market share of domestic brands.
Sponsors, ranging from consumer-electronics makers to automobile firms, may soon start questioning their involvement if they perceive negative publicity tarnishes their brands.