Chevrolet “Spark” China With Transformers 3 Tie-Up

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF Launch Party (Venue) 2

Shanghai General Motors’ sub-brand Chevrolet (雪佛兰 – Xuě fú lán) has just rolled out the “SPARK MYSELF” campaign to promote the new ‘Chevrolet Spark‘ in the PRC.

Aimed at China’s youth market, Chevy have created a multifaceted campaign, utilising various things from: graffiti, urban dance, music, light shows, online elements, TV commercials and even an endorsement deal with the upcoming movie Transformers: Dark of the Moon.

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The Car

The new model officially launched in the Mainland last week at the 2010 Guangzhou Auto Show (although it was technically first introduced in Shanghai in April 2010).

Chevrolet SPARK - Guangzhou Auto Show Launch 2010

The vehicle is known in China as the “斯帕可” (Sī pà kě) — a phoenetic translation of the English title.  It will retail between RMB77,800 — RMB88,800 (£7,700 — £8,700). For those car geeks amongst you, the ‘Spark’ is also known as the Daewoo Matiz, and both vehicles are currently produced by General Motors in South Korea.

If these technical details are making you yawn already please do not be perturbed — things are about to get, at least a little, more interesting…

With that in mind we will look at the following aspects of Chevy’s marketing implementation:

1. Beijing / Shanghai launch parties
2. Transformers: Dark of the Moon Endorsement
3. TV commercials
4. Online

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1. The Shanghai / Beijing launch parties

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF Launch Party (Poster)

Shanghai’s Red Town venue hosted the official launch of the ‘SPARK MYSELF’ campaign on Christmas Day. Urban art, music and technology were the core themes of the launch party.

According to the ‘SPARK MYSELF’ ‘Douban’ page around 440,000 people were interested in attending the Shanghai event (of course only a lucky few were able to attain tickets).

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF Launch Party (Venue) 1

The next party / youth showcase will be held in Beijing on 8th January 2011 — already 120,000 people are ‘interested in attending’.

On Youtube:

On Ku6:

The Shanghai party was quite an extravaganza, below are some of the various things that went on:

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3D Light Show

As you will have seen in the above video, the vehicle itself was used as a canvas for a seriously impressive 3D light show.

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF Launch Party (Light Show) 6

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF Launch Party (Light Show) 2

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF Launch Party (Light Show) 5

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF Launch Party (Light Show) 3—————————————————————————————–

The Grafitti Wall

Party-goers were encouraged to “spark” themselves by creating grafitti cartoon characters on the walls.

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF Launch Party (Grafitti Wall)

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF Launch Party (Grafitti Wall) 8

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF Launch Party (Grafitti Wall) 6

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF Launch Party (Grafitti Wall) 5

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF Launch Party (Grafitti Wall) 4—————————————————————————————–

Live Music

As well DJ’s playing live throughout the night, the opening music at the event came courtesy of the Chinese band “Black New New”.

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF Launch Party (Black New New)

On Youku:

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Inside the venue

Aside from the light shows and music visitors found themselves surrounded by interactive games and technological delights including a live micro-blogging wall.

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF Launch Party (Inside the venue) 8

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF Launch Party (Personalised T-shirts)

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF Launch Party (Micro-blogging wall)

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF Launch Party (Modern seating)

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF Launch Party (Inside the venue)

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF Launch Party (Inside the venue) 7

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF Launch Party (Inside the venue) 6

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF Launch Party (Inside the venue) 5

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF Launch Party (Inside the venue) 3

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF Launch Party (Inside the venue) 4

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2. Transformers: Dark of the Moon Endorsement

Transformers: Dark Of The Moon Official Movie Logo

Yes, I think it is ridiculous title name too but nonetheless a range of Chevrolet vehicles have featured in the last two Transformers movies.

In the previous films the Chevrolet Camaro has been used as the star Transformer ‘Bumblebee’.

Chevrolet & Transformers

The second film, ‘Revenge of the Fallen’ introduced viewers to ‘The Twins‘. These two transformed into the Chevrolet ‘Beat’ and ‘Trax’ respectively. For the third film titled, ‘Transformers: Dark of the Moon’  The Twins’ vehicles have been upgraded to…yep you’ve guessed it, the new Chevrolet Spark.

Transformers is loved in China, I particuarly remember the popularity of last year’s Meters/bonwe ‘Transfashion’ campaign. So as with the previous two films, the Transformers collaboration is promoted heavily as part of the new Chevrolet campaign.

To see how Chevrolet utilised the Transformers endorsement for the last film, check out the Chinese mini-site: http://transformers.chevrolet.com.cn/.

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF & Transformers 5

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF & Transformers 3

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF & Transformers 3

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF & Transformers 2

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF & Transformers 4

For more photos, visit the “SPARK MYSELF” Flickr page.

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3. TV Commercials

Asides from the launch events, Chevrolet has also released four amusing  TV commercials. Each of the ads demonstrates the different benefits of the Spark.

On Youku:

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4. Online

Sina and Douban pages, and a mini-site have been created to promote the new vehiclel.

These have been picked up already by a large number of Chinese netizens with many posting photos and engaging with the sites.

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Finally, should you be living in the Mainland you can still apply for tickets to the Beijing party / youth showcase on the 8th January 2011. If the Shanghai party is anything to go by. and you are lucky enough to get tickets, then you are certainly in for a treat.

Chevrolet China - SPARK MYSELF Launch Party (Gifts)

Credit to: McCann Erickson (Shanghai Branch)

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