Benz Faqs

Mercedes-Benz is starting a comprehensive integrated marketing campaign for the new C-Class, which will be introduced to the market on March 31, 2007. Using the slogan “C-for Yourself,” the brand with the star is conducting a variety of communication activities via several channels to support the sales launch of its highest-volume model series.

The primary goal of the campaign is to convince customers around the world of the advantages of the versatile product concept behind the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan, including two distinct front-end designs and outstanding comfort, agility and safety. “Our objective for this campaign is to motivate customers to experience for themselves the superior driving culture offered by the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class,” says Dr. Olaf Göttgens, Vice President Brand Communications Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars.

Along with our tried advertising methods, we will also be focusing strongly on various forms of direct communi-cation for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, to be implemented at exclusive driving events. These measures will be accompanied by a Mercedes-Benz C-Class Mobile Marketing Special, a presen-tation within Second Life and interactive films on the Internet, innovative platforms that will enable us to reach existing and potential customers of our brand in a targeted manner.”

The integrated campaign for the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class was developed by BBDO France, following a pitch conducted with several markets, and is adapted to the requirements of the international markets. In Germany, the new lead agency Jung von Matt is carrying out the campaign for Mercedes-Benz with the slogan “C-for Yourself.”

The C-Class campaign will move into high gear on April 2, 2007, with the launch of advertisements in magazines and newspapers with high circulations. Like most of the other communication measures, the print ads, which invite customers to test-drive the sedan, feature a white C-Class Avantgarde model equipped with the AMG sports package.

A 30-/40-second television commercial, to be broadcast on all public and commercial stations in Germany with high circulations, will feature the current Formula 1 world champion race car driver Fernando Alonso enthusiastically describing the outstanding handling qualities of the new C-Class.

At the end of the commercial, Alonso, who drives for the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 team, symbolically hands over the keys to a new C-Class to the audience at home, thus inviting them to test-drive the vehicle and see what the sedan has to offer. This theme of handing over the keys is repeated as a motivating element in many components of the campaign. In the German market, the primary C-Class campaign will be supplemented by extensive retail marketing measures, radio commercials, outdoor ads and stadium advertising at soccer matches of the German national team.

A particularly extensive and entertaining element of the international campaign is the online presentation at. On the site, which Mercedes-Benz also advertises by banners on the Internet, customers and anyone else interested in the C-Class can view the vehicle as displayed against realistic backdrops and then configure it and study the results from various perspectives.

The software allows users to select according to their personal tastes any combination of the model’s equipment lines, numerous color options, different types of light-alloy wheels, interior designs and selected optional features. The website also features an interactive assistant who guides users through the new 360-degree soft configurator. Several interactive films are available as well that show various individuals describing the most important details of the new C-Class as they take the vehicle out for a drive.

For anyone interested in the vehicle’s development, a specially produced video podcast documents the creation of the C-Class in four episodes. Finally, the Mercedes-Benz Museum website takes visitors on a multimedia journey through the successful history of Mercedes-Benz’ best-selling model series ever.

Since the C-Class does not only generate excitement in real life, the new Avantgarde model with the AMG package has started to become available on March 16, 2007, in Mercedes-Benz’ virtual representation at Second Life. All residents of this online world can purchase a virtual model of the C-Class for 1,500 Linden Dollars or virtually test-drive it on a challenging track. Tens of thousands of people from all over the world have visited the Mercedes-Benz island since its opening on February 20, 2007, and the site is one of the most frequently visited corporate presentations in Second Life.