Photo: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Navigator84
Most of you that went to see the latest installment of the Transformers saga might be disappointed with the hideously bad acting and slightly unexciting storyline, but the movie was saved by the robotic dinosaur riding Optimus Prime and his party of gung-ho Autobot buddies. However, Transformers 4 isn't a product placement heaven only for General Motors, but for Chinese carmaker Guangzhou Automobile as well.
For those that managed to see through the ending of the 165-minute long Transformers movie, you might recall that the last action scenes happened in China. Don't worry, we don't slip any spoilers for those of you that haven't seen the movie yet. During some very tense chase scenes filmed in Beijing and Hong Kong, the China-only Trumpchi GS5 built by Guangzhou was featured in the Michael Bay-directed movie.
As it happens, the sports utility vehicle that looks like the bastard lovechild of the 2013 MazdaSpeed3 and the Volkswagen Tiguan was featured thanks to a deal signed between the Chinese automaker and the production team behind the Transformers flick. The 4-year old Trumpchi automobile brand operates joint ventures with Toyota and Fiat and has a burning ambition to break into the United States car market.
“Our sponsorship of 'Transformers 4' will help more overseas dealers and consumers know about our cars and over the long run it will greatly contribute to our branding,” declared Wu Song, head of the Trumpchi brand, in a recent telephone interview.“We want to start exporting to the U.S. as quickly as possible, and I am confident that they will find our Trumpchi cars competitive.” So why does the Chinese manufacturer consider that exporting Stateside is such a good idea?
The explanation is quite simple: local Chinese car brands including BYD, Great Wall and Geely, are losing market share by the month in their home country to foreign players such as Ford or other outsiders that went all out on the offensive. But the thing is that a cheap, badly made, Chinese rip-off hasn't got any chances of making it big in the United States because, you know, people are attracted to the nameplate and the prestige a car offers more than the low sticker price or good fuel economy figures. Tough luck, Trumpchi.
As it happens, the sports utility vehicle that looks like the bastard lovechild of the 2013 MazdaSpeed3 and the Volkswagen Tiguan was featured thanks to a deal signed between the Chinese automaker and the production team behind the Transformers flick. The 4-year old Trumpchi automobile brand operates joint ventures with Toyota and Fiat and has a burning ambition to break into the United States car market.
“Our sponsorship of 'Transformers 4' will help more overseas dealers and consumers know about our cars and over the long run it will greatly contribute to our branding,” declared Wu Song, head of the Trumpchi brand, in a recent telephone interview.“We want to start exporting to the U.S. as quickly as possible, and I am confident that they will find our Trumpchi cars competitive.” So why does the Chinese manufacturer consider that exporting Stateside is such a good idea?
The explanation is quite simple: local Chinese car brands including BYD, Great Wall and Geely, are losing market share by the month in their home country to foreign players such as Ford or other outsiders that went all out on the offensive. But the thing is that a cheap, badly made, Chinese rip-off hasn't got any chances of making it big in the United States because, you know, people are attracted to the nameplate and the prestige a car offers more than the low sticker price or good fuel economy figures. Tough luck, Trumpchi.
Google News