To celebrate the passion drivers have for their automobiles, the makers of Pennzoil launched the next phase of the brand’s Long Love Cars campaign.
For some drivers, cars equal freedom; for others, cars represent status; for many, their car stories are based on driving memories. Through car stories, Long Love Cars will come to life with sponsorships, activations and programs that offer meaningful ways for consumers to connect with the brand everywhere cars are adored.
The Long Love Cars campaign focuses on common themes associated with automotive passion, including music and freedom, as well as sharing the joy with others.
To celebrate those themes, Pennzoil has elected car enthusiast and “Artist of the Decade” Tim McGraw as its brand ambassador and will be sponsoring this summer’s 2012 Brothers of the Sun Tour with McGraw.
Additionally, the makers of the brand will team up with the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) to support PVA’s Mission:ABLE program to retro-fit vehicles for injured veterans so that these former drivers can reclaim their freedom and love of driving.
“People love cars; they name them, take pictures with them and form deep personal connections with them, and we want people to know they can trust Pennzoil to make exceptional motor oils because we love cars, too,” said Bree Sandlin, Pennzoil Global Brand Manager. “The Long Love Cars campaign is a celebration of drivers and their cars. Everything we are doing this year is geared to talking about that love in bigger ways than ever before. ”
Pennzoil realizes music and driving go hand-in-hand, so the brand will provide unique experiences through a new music platform that will resonate with the overall goal of the campaign. Pennzoil will be offering fans exclusive Tim McGraw content, including behind-the-scenes videos from the road, and strategic online promotions. All of this content will be available only to “fans” of the brand on the Pennzoil Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages.
“Music has always been associated with cars for me,” said Tim McGraw. “There’s a bond that’s formed between a guy and a car and it starts when you’re young. It’s always been the way I’ve listened to music; I would listen to demos in the car. My car represents freedom.”
Freedom is another sentiment associated with driving an automobile. Yet this freedom can be taken away if one is physically disabled and unable to drive a standard factory-built vehicle. The Long Live Cars campaign will kick-off a two year commitment to PVA’s Mission:ABLE program that will allow veterans with disabilities to reconnect with driving and regain their love of the car.
The makers of Pennzoil motor oil have agreed to donate $100,000 to PVA with the goal to retrofit vehicles for handicapped use and allow these heroes to revive their love of cars. Retro-fitting typically includes removing seats, installing hand-controls or mounting ramps.
“We all know and love that sense of freedom you get behind the wheel of a car,” said Bill Lawson, national president of Paralyzed Veterans of America and automobile enthusiast. “Multiply that feeling of freedom by a million, and that’s what it feels like to be able to drive again after being paralyzed. It really does give you back your independence. We are deeply grateful to the Pennzoil brand for their support of Paralyzed Veterans of America’s Mission:ABLE — an all-out effort to help our vets get back their independence after their lives have been shattered by serious injury.”
To connect one-on-one with consumers, a multi-faceted social media plan for the Pennzoil brand is also being launched using a variety of platforms to bring together consumers who share a love for cars. Automobile enthusiasts now have the ability to join and follow various groups created just for them including a Facebook Fan Page (www.facebook.com/Pennzoil), a Twitter account (@Pennzoil) and a branded YouTube Channel (www.YouTube.com/Pennzoil).
“Social media will allow us the opportunity to give our fans a peek behind the curtain of our brand activities, including exclusive content from the Tim McGraw tour, our motorsports sponsorships in NASCAR and the IRL, and footage from our activities with the PVA–all content that we think will help motorists really connect around their shared love of cars,” said Sandlin.
The Long Love Cars campaign will connect drivers with their passion for cars throughout 2012. For more information on the Pennzoil Long Love Cars campaign, social media sites and upcoming Pennzoil road shows, visit www.Pennzoil.com.
