Nielsen research shows that green marketing by automakers effectively drives customers to the showroom. Ford, Honda, Toyota, Chevrolet and Nissan have taken that idea to heart—and are now finalists for the third annual Nielsen Automotive Green Marketer of the Year award. Recognizing the brand that made the greatest strides to both gain consumer awareness and positively impact consumer perceptions around the automotive industry’s environmentally friendly initiatives, the award will be presented at the Los Angeles International Auto Show on November 29.
In 2012, the impact of green advertising on purchase consideration was 20 percent higher among consumers compared to 2011. Environmentally friendly features are also gaining steam. Of particular note, 76 percent of consumers interviewed said that high fuel efficiency and MPG is something a vehicle must have to be considered for purchase.
“The topic of green marketing continues to gain momentum and is critical for a brand to be considered by today’s consumer,” said Lois Miller, president, Nielsen Global Automotive. “Our research identifies how effective auto manufacturers are in raising awareness of their green products, initiatives and innovations. We can then understand if they were able to change perceptions and consideration in a positive way among consumers.”
In order to determine the finalists and winner, Nielsen leveraged three research studies to incorporate awareness levels and perceptions across media types. The studies included:
Auto manufacturers that ran any national TV ads with green themes between October 2011 and September 2012 were eligible for consideration.