Automotive
PINK LADIES: Safe Travels
Pink Ladies arose from the need that women have to feel safe in the city. Tina Dutton, one of Pink Ladies founders, formed the idea after her daughter mentioned that she didn't feel comfortable being the last one in the cab at the end of a night out on the town. Tina and business partner Andrea Winders further developed a plan that launched Pink Ladies Cabs in June of 2005. Pink Ladies are pink in just about every way; from the bright pink exterior of their Renault Kangoo cars, to the pink leather interiors, to their pink uniforms, Pink Ladies stay true to their name. Pink Ladies drivers must be females trained in self-defense, customer care, first aid, and working with the disabled. There's no cash in Pink Ladies vehicles and they'll wait to make sure you get safely through your front door when they drop you off at home.
Behind this innovative idea lies plenty of research with organizations like Hail Safe and Suzy Lamplugh Trust that gave Tina and Andrea a better understanding about the statistics and risks to women who are traveling by cab. The main goal of the Pink Ladies is to promote safety â€" a mission you can see throughout their company. They believe that no woman should have to be afraid, and whether you're doing some shopping or coming home from a night out, they'll work to offer you nothing but the highest level of safety. Pink Ladies knows that "prevention is better than a cure," and they're ready to prevent as many unnecessary attacks on women as possible. They'll even text you with the exact information about where your Pink Lady will be so you don't have to stand outside needlessly waiting for a cab to arrive. Although many people think that the Pink Ladies are a taxicab service, they're not. Pink Ladies is a private hire member service provided exclusively to women, meaning that you have to pre-book your ride ahead of time.
Pink Ladies are creating a priceless brand that makes women feel safe, comfortable, and cared for. By offering a service designed to promote peace of mind, the Pink Ladies will remain a valuable resource for countless urban dwellers. This company knows that getting from point A to point B is about more than just the ride - it's about knowing that you'll arrive home in one piece to hug your kids, pet your cat, or polish off that Pad Thai you've been dreaming about since lunchtime.
GM's Flex-Fuel: Taking Back the American Market
GM's long-standing image of creating the biggest and strongest engines is no longer maintaining the interest of their customers. Today's customers care about more than having the most ominous car on the block - they do however, as seen with the hybrid break through, want a car that's more environment-friendly. Whether you drive a hybrid or traditional vehicle, consumers are maintaining a dependence on gasoline. So how is GM making their claim in this new market? Rather than jump on the Hybrid-market bandwagon, GM is creating a unique market approach through their flex-fuel initiative by offering consumers a choice at the pump.
Our dependency on traditional fuels such as oil and natural gas are making a lot of people nervous, and GM can no longer afford to be seen as an idle bystander in the case against dependency. GM recently launched a nationwide campaign for the alternative fuel of ethanol, which is extracted from corn. Now customers who love GM's "gas-guzzlers" can still get their dream-vehicle while making a lighter ecological footprint. GM's latest vehicles are "flex-fuel" vehicles, capable of running off a mixture of fuel that's 15% traditional gasoline and 85% ethanol mix. GM is seeking to redefine the way fuel is used in America by providing a massive amount of vehicles that are equipped to deal with alternative fuel. This alternative to buying a traditional hybrid vehicle is disrupting the notion of "green auto design," and proving that efficiency can come in several different packages.
GM is counting on people who care. No longer is a sleek looking vehicle with the greatest power the most important, now people want a better experience from their car. The flex-fuel by GM reportedly lowers greenhouse gas emissions by 27%, turning the traditional gas-guzzler into an ecological teddy-bear. GM is telling people to "Live Green and Go Yellow," encouraging consumer awareness about alternative fuels. This renewable fuel grows back every year, and can be grown right here in the United States. And GM's commitment is huge, having made over 1.5 million vehicles with flex-fuel capabilities. On their website users can determine exactly how much fuel they will personally save by putting their information into GM's "cornulator." Simply put in the number of miles you drive in a year, select a new GM flex-fuel vehicle, and they'll show you how much you're saving our planet's resources. United with Ethanol Across America and other non-profit organizations, GM is out to revolutionize the market. GM isn't stopping there; they see flex-fuel as a stepping-stone to reaching even more efficient alternatives such as hydrogen-based fuels. So jump on board with fuel independence and get ready for the future.
BMW: Lusting after the Ultimate Driving Experience?
BMW epitomizes style. I think we would all love to own a BMW. You only have to look at the sleek elegance of their cars, and the cheetah like designs that portray the sophistication of their brand. This sophisticated style has only been strengthened by the sophisticated and diligent ads that they have created, and their association with movie brands like James Bond. BMW competes in a tough market, where discerning clients are offered a classy range of choice from automakers like Mercedes, Audi, and Volvo. Yet BMW has firmly imprinted itself in this lucrative market by providing a customer experience that is par none in the auto industry. In BMW's latest Sustainable Value Report they reveal the secret to their success: a commitment in every facet of their business to creating the ultimate experience for their clients.
BMW has high standards for itself, and has embedded that in every part of its business. Their cars are designed to be sleek, but elegant, and offer a distinguished sense of refinement and exclusivity, and this experience is built into every interaction that a customer has with BMW. The message is if you stick with BMW your vehicle needs will always be met, and they do so by providing "The Ultimate Driving Experience". Designed to teach drivers of all levels to feel more confident and in control on the roads, the no-fee program offers consumers a chance to drive the redesigned 2006 BMW 330i through an autocross at breakneck speeds. The UED offers three different programs: Autocross Driving Instruction, Student Driver Program, and The Ultimate Drive. Beyond simply having the experience of driving a BMW, participants also do an Audi/BMW/Infiniti comparison, testing the 2006 Audi A4 3.2 and the 2005 Infiniti G35 back-to-back against the redesigned 3 Series. Joanne Helprin, writing for Edmunds.com describes her experience: "The half-day program I attended took place in a large parking lot outside the Santa Anita Racetrack in Arcadia, California, temporarily converted into a test track. The 'UDE,' as it's called, began with a class on driving dynamics, hard braking and safety, led by professional racing instructors. Each participant, in turn, then drove the 3 Series as fast as he or she could through the twists and turns to see how it handled: full-throttle acceleration through straightaway, aggressive cornering into tight turns. Then we did the same with the Audi A4 and the Infiniti G35." What is the effect of this? When potential customers see how the precision handling of the BMW, they are instantly converted, so the faithful following of BMW grows. BMW then enhances this experience by offering BMW owners courses in safe driving techniques, which involve high speed turns on a skid pad, and is great fun. It also helps to enhance awareness of BMW's unique safety features. There is even a social aspect to this program and for every mile driven by customers BMW donates $1 to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation with a goal of $1 million each year. The Ultimate Driving Experience is a blast, and it benefits a good cause. Everyone wins.
If that isn't enough of an experience, you might consider participating in BMW's European Delivery program. The European Delivery program allows you to order a custom built car which you can pick up from their Munich plant in Germany. Following the pick up of your car, you can choose from several structured adventures designed to let you fully experience the BMW sensation. The options include wining and dining in Switzerland, shopping in Germany, and visiting historic castles in Prague. For the free spirits out there, BMW also encourages you to design your own experience, offering information and recommendations for travelers with a more open mind. With these vacations, the joy is truly found in the journey, a journey that bonds you to your new car (and BMW) for years to come. Whether traveling alone or with a companion, this experience creates a bond that you'll be reminded of every time you take your dream machine to the grocery store. Your new BMW becomes a souvenir of your European adventure, arriving at your home several weeks after you return from your trip. BMW's European Delivery program sells more than cars; it provides an escapist opportunity to forever transform your notion of driving. The only downside to partaking in this fantastic voyage is that buying a vehicle any other way will forever seem mundane. See http://www.bmwusa.com/
And BMW is still involved in so much more. It offers a specialized, technical support service for BMW drivers whose cars break down. Should your car break down they will send a mechanic out, together with a spare car, so that you can continue on to your destination. BMW then takes your car back for repairs. They also hold thrilling functions for BMW owners that allow drivers to develop networks and see the release of new BMW models. BMW is also involved in a program whereby they account for the resources they use in their cars, and are developing materials that are biodegradable. BMW's sustainable market policy is simply to provide such a clean, user friendly product that the meaningful experience attracts customers seeking a company developed from core values similar to their own. One of the company's efforts is research in hydrogen fuel which again ensures any investor that BMW is here to stay, having recognized the need for a new fuel over twenty-five years ago.
Helprin's final comments assert that "after learning more about driving dynamics and safety, and experiencing a couple of thrilling laps around the track, it's easy to understand why people lust after BMWs." These are the kinds of comments you will regularly hear from BMW drivers, and shows why they are passionately committed to the brand. All of this is a result of BMW being passionately committed to their clients.
HONDA: Driving the World to be a Better Place
In a world where teenagers are oftentimes at their parents throats arguing about why the family station wagon just isn't a suitable ride, Honda offers a safe, stylish middle ground. It seems that teens with dreams of a tricked out ride and their suburban parents who just want a good deal have both been pursuing the Honda dream with great vigor over the last two decades. Honda has actually been in America since 1959, and has been growing in popularity with a diverse audience ever since. If you never thought that a car could offer a meaningful experience, think again. Honda possesses the unique ability to create an understanding between parents and their misunderstood adolescents by creating a little sweet spot where kids and parents see eye to eye. Kids don't think their parents are quite as geeky and out of touch, while parents can revel in the fact that their kid actually made a smart decision (although the airbrushed flames on their new Civic might cause second guessing). And when your youngster matures from a first-car Civic to an adult-car Accord, don't worry because Honda cars maintain the best resale value in the market. Honda has disrupted the auto market of old where brand preference was defined by age, gender, and income. Through innovative technology and a strong brand identity Honda is giving other leading manufacturers a run for their money.
Most recently Honda has come to the forefront of the auto industry due to their Hybrid technology, something that's helping to save the environment, and wallets, worldwide. It's refreshing to hear barely legal street racers boast about their sweet rims, and FCX fuel cells that "reduce global dependency on oil." Honda is creating more than just environmentally efficient vehicles, they're promoting a lifestyle where green is cool, it's cutting edge, it's trendy. Gone are the days of the lone the tree hugger fighting for mother earth, as soccer moms, CEO's, and angry adolescents are also joining the fun thanks to Honda. And what makes it even better is they continue to offer a level of reliability in their cars that makes you wonder why other car manufacturers can't do the same.
If you're in the market for a new or used car, you've no doubt been paying some attention to both Honda and Toyota (incidentally two main names leading the "smart design," hybrid race). If making a life or death decision between the two, we wish you the best of luck. It seems that bloggers worldwide are having just as much trouble as you are trying to choose one or the other. In fact, some of the blog entries we looked at came from couples who were so indecisive that they got them both. In the world of fuel efficient, fun to drive cars, these companies are where it's at. While in the past Toyota has been a more family oriented company, the release of the Prius and new Corolla have proven that Toyota can be just as much fun as Honda. And in the wake of the sophisticated Accord and more matured Civic, it seems that Honda is ready to become a permanent member of your home.
COOPER MINI: Big on Fun and Word of Mouth
In 2000, after its acquisition by BMW, the new MINI emerged as a revamped edition of the 1956 Classic Mini. Since then it has been tantalizing "motorists" around the world. The idea behind MINI is one that embraces diversity, quirkiness, and efficiency; something that today's tired out, over spent (literally, you've seen the gas prices) drivers can appreciate. See, a MINI is designed not just to transform the owner's driving experience, but to transform their whole life.
MINI embraces personal style by allowing customers to build their own MINI from the ground up. They encourage a return to life's simpler pleasures by making driving fun again by using a street-legal go-kart design. True, MINI benefited greatly from the well-placed movie appearance in "The Italian Job", and is using movies as an excellent way to develop Mini's image and experience, but just as important to its brand is its word-of-mouth marketing experiences. People don't actually even drive their MINIs; they "motor" in them. MINI suggests handing out "Motoring Citations" - by applauding others for a parking job well done or for owning a "sweet set of wheels." MINI also suggests creating your own "Desktop Decoy" for those days when the call of the MINI just can't be resisted. The Desktop Decoy screensaver makes it "look and sound like you're working diligently," and can be downloaded from www.MINIUSA.com. The goal of MINI is to make your life more enjoyable, whether it means saving money, laughing louder, or taking that turn just a little bit faster. Mini will be a brand that lasts.
O'GARAGE: Affordable Car Maintenance
In a time when everyone wants everything done for them, the unseemingly demand from do it yourselfers is somewhat surprising and yet ever growing. Customers want to feel empowered, thrifty, and capable; all things that actualize when you conquer a project on your own. Do it yourself resources have been around a long time, hardware stores, sewing patterns, and boxed hair dye all embody the idea of "I can do it myself." Auto parts stores are another familiar part of the DIY family, but O'garage is no ordinary auto part retailer. O'garage is disrupting the auto repair market by providing the space and resources needed so that car owners can take care of their problems in their own way, on their own time, for their own price.
O'garage is a unique option for people in France who possess the know how, and the drive to fix their own cars. The idea behind O'garage is simple, convenient, and frustration free. Basically, O'garage provides the facilities, tools, education, and parts needed to get the job done. They even offer showers and sandwiches if your project was especially messy or, uh, hunger inducing. O'garage is perfect for people who want a better place than the side of the road or the expensive dealership to fix their car. The idea was originally intended for city dwellers who are most commonly found without a garage or some other ample place to perform vehicular surgery. And while O'garage caught on quickly with urbanites, suburbanites were also attracted to this one stop care repair concept. It seems that having all of the resources and facilities at your fingertips is way better than driving home eager to fix your ride only to discover that you got the wrong part. The convenience of this holistic repair center gets even better once you realize that it's affordable too. You can rent your own space by the hour, or even half hour, for about $12.
And while O'garage can only be found in France, we're hoping to see this idea pop up a little closer to home. Their DIY model has proven successful, and shown that people don't mind getting their hands dirty if it means getting a good deal. Way to disrupt the notion that we're getting lazier and more reliant on professional enterprises that do everything for us.
NURIDE: Carpooling Just Got Cool
NuRide offers an innovative twist on the played out carpool setup. NuRide recognizes that it's oftentimes easier for people to travel solo, but it's also quite harmful to the environment. NuRide proposes that people should be rewarded for helping to keep mother earth safe, and for contributing to the traffic congestion and air pollution reduction we all so desperately want. NuRide has found that even "a 10% increase in ridesharing decreases congestion delays by 50%"- amounting to a lot of time saved if we all participated in the carpool trend. The NuRide Network allows people to plan ridesharing trips and earn rewards points for every trip they take. To participate all you have to do is log onto NuRide.com and plan your next trip according to the date, time, destination, and other criteria-it's free to try so if you don't like it you never have to do it again. You can also choose if you want to ride with friends or meet someone new, and you'll never get into giving or taking a ride with someone if you don't want to. For every trip you take you earn NuRide miles that go towards gift cards and other goodies from NuRide sponsors like Old Navy, Segway, and T.G.I. Friday's.
NuRide has revamped the played out practice of carpooling by making it a rewarding experience with the potential to save the environment and make new friends. NuRide knows that sometimes all we need is a little extra incentive-kudos for them for creating new value for a tired (and yet worthwhile) practice.
SCION: Better Branding
For a good example of the auto industry taking experience design seriously, look no further than Scion. Scion is Toyota's cool new brand that's targeting the Y Generation (60+ million 8 to 22 year olds). The Scion brand prides itself on "independent and free thought," providing a remix of features, colors, and styles that makes each vehicle a unique creation. The freedom of self-expression is Scion's mission and makes up the outline of their business plan to grow as a collective.
Scion's target market of Generation Y trendsetters are projected to purchase more than 4 million cars in the next four years, a number that can rocket the Scion brand to new heights. Since car buyers are no longer just looking for a ride that gets them from A to B, car manufacturers and designers are now faced with the task of evoking emotion and personality in their automobiles. In an effort to tap into customers' values and beliefs, Toyota is reaching out using mediums like movies, visual art, and music. They've designed a catalog that features shoes and tattoos in addition to cars, proving that the movement towards catering to a lifestyle is essential for any cutting edge brand. It's also crucial that auto retailers don't sell to buyers in a traditional pressure oriented style. Today's customers want to be presented with the information they need and then be allowed to make their own decisions. That's why Scion showrooms don't feature pushy sales people. Instead, potential customers are able to customize their Scions using interactive kiosks that allow them to build a virtual model of their future ride. Scion recognizes the ever growing trend of niche markets in the auto industry, and with car lines becoming increasingly specialized, it's imperative that Toyota doesn't miss their ride.
The Scion brand is creating emotional and psychological responses for their customers. They understand that an average product with traditional marketing no longer fits the bill, and have branched out into the world of making meaning. Toyota is well known for their commitment to making vehicles that satisfy specific lifestyles, and it looks like they've managed to create yet another product that stands up to the demands of wants, needs, and most importantly beliefs and values.
SHE DRIVES: Putting Women in the Driver's Seat
Whether you're looking to buy a new car, accessory, tires, or auto magazine-being a girl in the auto industry can be tough. More and more women are buying cars and making decisions on big purchases-so why hasn't anyone customized the market for them? A car is the second biggest purchase in most women's lifetimes, and it should be a fun experience that's straightforward and easy to understand. Although we don't always know the technical in's and out's of what's under the hood, we have every right to love our cars just as much as guys do.
She Drives director, Juliet Potter has been working tirelessly to institute changes that benefit women who are looking to buy a new ride. Through in depth meetings with car companies and dealerships Juliet has not only gathered tons of useful information, but she's also inspired other women to work for change in this male dominated industry. She drives is looking to make car purchases better for women by offering advice and solutions to some of the most difficult problems we face.
She Drives offers suggestions on how to go through the car buying process starting with things like research, test drives, and the importance of asking questions. They also warn you about hidden costs and ongoing running costs that can help you budget correctly. So whether you're in the market for a new or used car, rest assured that She Drives has our best interest in mind. Their mission to provide ladies with a voice and make sure that someone pays attention to their wants and needs makes them a great resource for women everywhere.
AUTOSTADT
Autostadt knows how much work goes into buying a new car, and have been working to create an experience that makes this agonizing process rather enlightening. Autostadt makes purchasing a new car something to remember, and not because of annoying sales people or new car smells. No, they're creating experiences that satisfy customers in ways never known to the auto industry before. In addition, they offer a relaxing and entertaining Premium Pick-up program that makes picking up your new car an unforgettable memory. The Autostadt adventure includes a fully automated procedure that brings your car down to you from a massive (and futuristic) build of 20 story high car towers. Just follow the large signs in the Customer Center to be alerted when your turn comes, from there you're given the keys to your new ride, your picture is taken, and gleaming glass doors open while your new car magically appears (ok, it's not all that much magic, but still cool). And you're off.
Feel free to explore the ZeitHaus museum that chronicles the history of automobility, or check out the AutoLab and factory tour where you can get a taste for what it takes to build a car. And don't forget about Kids' World and Kids' Traffic School that works to make learning not only fun, but also interactive. And at Lern Park the little ones (ages 5 to 11) can get their own drivers licenses-a dream come true for any cautious parent. There are also nearly a dozen All Terrain Obstacle Courses and a Safety and Economy training program for all the reckless road adventurers out there. All of this action is bound to make you hungry, but don't worry the Autostadt's got you covered. You can dine at over a half dozen different restaurants, each boasting a unique look and menu. After your big meal you may want to take a nap at the Ritz Carlton that's right across the street. Yes, the Ritz Carlton with 174 fabulous rooms, 21 complete suites, and over 600 fine paintings that adorn gilded walls, not to mention Sven Elverfeld; an award winning young chef sure to tickle your taste buds pink.
By making the process of buying a car something that people actually look forward to doing, Autostadt has proven that there's always room for improvement. Even though most of us only buy a new car once every 10 or so years, Autostadt is able to gain new (and repeat) business through consumer generated word-of-mouth advertising-a priceless thing to have in a cutthroat industry like this.