Harvard Case: Launching the BMW Z3 Roadster James McDowell, vice president of marketing at BMW North America, Inc. must design Phase II communication strategies for the launch of the new BMW Z3 roadster. The program follows an “out-of-the-box’ pre-launch campaign centered on the placement of the product in the November 1996 James Bond movie, Golden Eye, and including other “non-traditional” elements such as a product appearance on Jay Leno’s Tonight show, an offering of a James Bond Edition Roadster in the Neiman Marcus Christmas Catalog, and large scale public relations activities. McDowell must assess the effectiveness of the pre-launch activities and design marketing tactics that can sustain product excitement until product availability in March. The Z3 case provides a stimulating overview of how creative ideas can influence a new product launch. It illustrates the role of cross-promotions and movie product placements within the marketing mix, as well as their role in developing a new brand and a brand’s ‘personality’. It also shows how communications strategy and tactics have evolved beyond traditional TV advertising. Objectives of the case: 1. To consider the power of marketing execution (e.g., product placement) versus traditional media planning strategy. How does this new marketing approach affect shifts in brand image? 2. To encourage a point-of-view regarding the role of cross-promotions and movie product placements both within the marketing mix, and as elements of new product launch activities 3. To structure thinking about a "new marketing paradigm" that does not rely on advertising, the television networks and their associated metrics as central organizing elements. Namely, to develop a framework by which "no... ... middle of paper ... ...There, 1 e, we 2 interviewed relevant senior executives about their decision on marketing the Z3. We asked for and 3 reviewed relevant marketing plans from BMW. We needed to understand the “4 C’s”: their 4 company’s skills and objectives, the customers they were trying to attract, the competitors they 5 would face, and the channels they would use to get the product to market. This is a pretty standard 6 framework I and many others regularly use in analysis of marketing situations. We supplemented 7 the data we obtained from BMW with research in the library and on-line. We then developed a 8 draft of the case which showed us where we needed additional data to complete the study. With this 9 knowledge of additional data needs in hand, we went back to BMW and asked for and received 10 more information. We then completed our draft and sent it to BMW for approval.
For decades, the Bavarian Motor Works automotive company, more commonly known as BMW, has been an icon in European luxury automobiles. It has done an extraordinary job in setting the standard for other manufacturers from Europe, Japan, and the United States auto markets. But what keeps the customer pleased with the BMW brand is not only its vehicles superb handling and performance, but its ability to inject a certain character into the automobiles themselves. This is achieved by the use of certain design elements that can be traced through history to the earliest of the BMW models. These elements include: the aerodynamic body style of the cars and sport utility vehicles, the Hofmeister Kink which is a characteristic that involves design of rear seat windows, the quadruple headlight configuration, and the famous kidney grille that is tucked into the front bumper giving the car an all-around exclusive exterior style.
To study the BMW case, the background information and role of new plant at Spartanburg will be described at the beginning. Secondly, the 3 alternatives options will be analyzed and compared accordingly to determine a proper conclusion. Finally, the recommendation will be presented with various considerations.
Armstrong, Gary, and Philip Kotler. Marketing: an introduction. 11th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2013. Print.
A1) “How you act as a marketer on media, ensures how the public will react in marketplace”. This message has been aptly looked upon by Ford Motors, in successfully positioning their product ‘Ford Fiesta’ in the US Marketplace.
Amos, Silas. "Champions of Designs: MTV." Editorial. Marketing 30 May 2012: 20. Ebscohost.com. Marketingmagazine.co.uk. Web. 22 Feb. 2014.
Wiles, M. A., & Danielova, A. (2009). The worth of product placement in successful films: An event study analysis. Journal of Marketing, 73(four), 44-63.
Creating a strong path of action, that includes all steps necessary for research to be insightful and applicable, takes a lot of planning and consideration. The research case discussed in this paper will expound on steps necessary for a fictitious company, Advanced Automobile Concepts, to increase sales. Advanced Automobile Concepts, Zen Motors, needs a research plan showing each step along the research path. The report will start with the marketing research problem, 8 steps including objectives, design and data collecting, and concluding with how the report should be presented. The research will not be conducted but each step will be de described as to how it will be carried out in relation to how the CEO of Advanced Automobile
Once the target market has been identified it is important to develop a marketing strategy. In today's fast paced, information overloaded society; conveying a message about a product seems to be more difficult than ever. The consumer is bombarded with advertising everywhere they look. Today advertising not only exists on television, radio, magazines, and newspapers, it can be found on billboards, park benches, in our mailboxes, on buses, taxis, at sporting events, and on clothing.
Having both marketing strategies and both products analyzed and the history of the important marketing decisions made and techniques used by the company written down, it will be interesting to perform a critical analysis of how the market and business realities made an impact on the marketing of Tesla Motors, why it happened and what was the effect. The presence of the CEO and the impact he makes on the public and investor confidence will also be critically reviewed. Based on the results, a list of recommendations will be composed for both representatives and marketing specialists who work in the same or similar
One of the differentiation strategies used by BMW is the creation of auto products that consumers can emotionally relate to. In building the BMW brand, the company has succeeded in positioning its products as prestigious or luxurious. Therefore, most consumers want to own a BMW car solely for the prestige it gives them. BMW products are not only purchased due to their usability or functionality but for the status they give the owner. Subsequently, when a person buys a BMW product, they are emotionally attached not just to the car but to the brand as a whole. This has created increased brand loyalty in BMW growing its customer base as more people search for the status associated with the company’s products.
When creating a marketing mix for a product, the company needs to look at the 4Ps: product, place, price and promotion (Eugene McCarthy, 1960). “When considering the 4 P’s of the GoPro, it is clear that the company’s success has been due in large to such great marketing.” (Suki Chan, 2013)[1].
Company Overview: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) is a German holding company and automobile manufacturer that focuses on the automobile and motorcycle markets worldwide. Franz Josef Popp founded the company in March 1916. BMW is headquartered in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It also owns and produces Mini cars, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad. It divides its activities into the three main segments: Automobiles, Motorcycles and Financial Services. Its BMW automobile range encompasses the 1 Series, including three-door, five-door, coupe and convertible models; the 3 Series, including sedan, touring, coupe and convertible models; the brand new 4 series, featuring an only coupe design; the 5 Series, available in sedan and touring models; the 6 Series, available as a coupe or convertible; the 7 Series large sedan; the Z4 roadster and coupe; the sports utility vehicles, X3, X5 and X6 and M models, such as M3, M5 and M6. It has producing, assembly, service and sales subsidiaries throughout the world. For the sake of this project, I will be focusing on BMW’s automobile range mentioned above but specifically the 3 series line. The BMW 3 series proves to be the most profitable line due to its relatively low cost and affordability whilst featuring the thrill and power of a German engineered vehicle.
Cravens, D. W., & Piercy, N. F. (2009). Strategic marketing (9th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
The global company Mercedes-Benz is considered one of the most successful and well-known automotive companies worldwide. Since 1886, the company’s founders Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz made history with the invention of the automobile, including the Daimler Group, which is one the biggest producers of premium cars and the world’s biggest manufacturer of commercial vehicles globally (Daimler, 2013). Their main focus is innovation, safety, technology, style, brand image, expansion, and superior automobiles by offering the best of the best to consumers worldwide. The brand’s philosophy is to continuously create radically new products to advance the cause of human mobility. It is also the number one luxury brand in the United States and Germany while continuously expanding in China and Russia as well (Interbrand, 2013). Mercedes-Benz has a great selection on divisions such as cars, trucks, vans, buses, and financial services offered to any consumer or business. Their global reach has increased tremendously by including production facilities in 17 countries on five continents and having 93 locations worldwide. As a pioneer of automotive engineering, their strategy is to continue the same pioneer role with the ongoing development of mobility, especially in the areas of safety and sustainability (Daimler, 2013). It is very essential for the company to focus on consumers’ needs and their highly well known brand in a competitive global economy. That is why the company Mercedes-Benz releases a brand new model every year to stay on top of its competitors by improving previous models. Some strategies practiced are global marketing, global product development, global product pricing, global advertising, global distribution, an...
Market Segmentation, Positioning and targeting for BMW 1.1 Introduction This report aims to examine the market segmentation, positioning and targeting of BMW (automobile company). BMW will be examined giving information about the company and where it is now and any recommendations that we feel are appropriate. 1.2 BMW Company Profile BMW was formed in 1917, from the merger of two small aero engine makers. Their famous blue and white symbol stems from the colours of the Bavarian Luftwaffe and is said to resemble the view of the one of their plane through a propeller. BMW is renowned for its sporty, sophisticated & luxury image which has been built up since the 1970's with many motor sport victories ranging from Touring Car to Formula 1.