Chevrolet looks to increase its global appeal even more than before by channeling its efforts from football to soccer. Or if you’re reading this from outside the United States, from American football to football. And according to Automotive News, the team Chevrolet is expected to sponsor is none other than Manchester United. Essentially, the team is to the United Kingdom’s English Premier League as the New England Patriots are to the NFL or the Yankees to the MLB — chock-full of bandwagon fans (and championships).
Man U has an estimated 659 million followers worldwide, while their Facebook page yields over 25 million of those fans. And what could perhaps be more than just a coincidence in GM’s eyes, the team is huge in Asia and is traveling to China to play two exhibition matches during the off-season. And in terms of how this plays in the industry-wide scheme of things, Chevrolet would be replacing Audi for the team come the official announcement.
Last year, Chevrolet sold a record 4.76 million vehicles on a global scale led by the compact Cruze. But while it has spurted into an automotive juggernaut, the brand falls on its face with a 1.5 percent market share in Europe. Perhaps GM’s marketing brass sees more value in funneling what would be next year’s Super Bowl budget to more effectively target a region that continues to lag behind the company’s global success.
Comments
Chevrolet should be sponsoring Manchester City FC instead since they wear blue
instead of red.
Top Gear had a good point on sponsoring sports teams. The only issue with it is that yes Chevy will now appeal more to United fans, they now appeal less to football fans that dislike United. Now I don’t dislike the Detroit Lions just because they play at Ford Field, but its a fine line to walk, sports sponsorship.