“Build them in the USA or face big border tax,” President-elect Donald Trump told carmakers on, what else, Twitter.

Ford and Fiat Chrysler both seemed to take the hint, with announcements of big investments. BMW’s response was somewhat different.

The company told the BBC it is “absolutely” committed to a new plant in Mexico.

Does this amount to the German multinational saying “sure buddy, how much d’you want us to pay?” to Mr Trump and his team?

Perhaps. The truth is that there is more spin in the story of Mr Trump, carmakers, and their investment decisions, than there is in the record the late, great Pete Burns sang about in his biggest hit.

Ford’s decision to shelve a $1.6bn (£1.3bn) investment in Mexico, while investing an extra $700m in Detroit, has been seen as concrete evidence that Mr Trump’s economic nationalism is succeeding before he has even got into office.

Ford, however, said its decision to shift its focus from petrol cars in Mexico to electric vehicles in Detroit was made for its own business reasons. And the Ford Focus will still be made in Mexico.

So do you believe Ford? Or do you believe the media commentators crediting Trump with the decision? Or is the reality something in between.

Electric is the auto industry’s future, so Ford has good reason to prioritise it. On the other hand, it’s also true that even if Mr Trump’s bellicose statements didn’t play any role in Ford’s announcement this time around, they will do in future.

All businesses of all descriptions take the domestic political environment into consideration when considering investment decisions (which is something Brexiteers need to learn). Does this mean those based in the USA are more likely to stay home in future? Quite possibly.

Does this mean Fiat Chrysler announced a $1bn plan to produce three Jeep models in the American mid-west on Sunday as a direct response to Mr Trump? Quite probably not. The plan was, in all likelihood, on the boardroom table before his election victory. The company’s timing of the announcement was very sharp, however. Look, see, we’re the good guys.

That timing allows Mr Trump to claim a huge win for his “America First” stance. But it will also, crucially, help both companies' lobbyists, with getting heard by the new administration.

Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Show all 14 1 /14 Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Isis: "Some of the candidates, they went in and didn’t know the air conditioner didn’t work and sweated like dogs, and they didn’t know the room was too big because they didn’t have anybody there. How are they going to beat ISIS?" Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On immigration: "I will build a great wall — and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me —and I’ll build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Free Trade: "Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people." PAUL J. RICHARDS | AFP | Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Mexicans: "When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re sending people that have lots of problems. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists." Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On China: "I just sold an apartment for $15 million to somebody from China. Am I supposed to dislike them?... I love China. The biggest bank in the world is from China. You know where their United States headquarters is located? In this building, in Trump Tower." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On work: "If you're interested in 'balancing' work and pleasure, stop trying to balance them. Instead make your work more pleasurable." AP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On success: "What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate." Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On life: "Everything in life is luck." AFP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On ambition: "You have to think anyway, so why not think big?" Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On his opponents: "Bush is totally in favour of Common Core. I don't see how he can possibly get the nomination. He's weak on immigration. He's in favour of Common Core. How the hell can you vote for this guy? You just can't do it." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Obamacare: "You have to be hit by a tractor, literally, a tractor, to use it, because the deductibles are so high. It's virtually useless. And remember the $5 billion web site?... I have so many web sites, I have them all over the place. I hire people, they do a web site. It costs me $3." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Barack Obama: "Obama is going to be out playing golf. He might be on one of my courses. I would invite him. I have the best courses in the world. I have one right next to the White House." PA Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On himself: "Love him or hate him, Trump is a man who is certain about what he wants and sets out to get it, no holds barred. Women find his power almost as much of a turn-on as his money." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On America: "The American Dream is dead. But if I get elected president I will bring it back bigger and better and stronger than ever before and we will make America great again." GETTY

BMW, by contrast, has made a rod for its own back. Mr Trump is an avid consumer of media. The BBC’s headline “BMW ‘absolutely committed’ to a new Mexican plant” will certainly be seen across the Atlantic.

Given what his quote has given rise to, sales and marketing director Ian Robertson is probably feeling less than comfortable at this moment.

He might have been better to have tired to avoid answering the question by saying something like “our investment plans depend on the business outlook but we’re committed to investing heavily in both the US and Mexico”. Better still not to say anything at all in such a febrile environment.