Daihatsu chooses Wallis Tomlinson

Car company Daihatsu has appointed Birmingham-based Wallis Tomlinson to its advertising account, following the sale of UK distribution rights to car distributor the International Motors Group.

Inchcape last month sold Daihatsu to West Midlands-based International Motors for &£9m.

The business had a &£5m media spend when it was handled by Banks Hoggins O’Shea/FCB, but this figure is now expected to decrease. Feather Brooksbank is tipped to pick up the media buying business.

Banks Hoggins last year resigned the business after merging with Bozells in September and taking over the &£15m UK Chrysler business. Until now, the Daihatsu account has been overseen by marketing agency Marketing Drives.

Wallis Tomlinson already handles International Motor’s other car brands, Isuzu and Subaru. It recently developed an advertorial for Subaru which ran during car enthusiast programme Driven on Channel 4. Daihatsu is unlikely to run any TV ads in the near future.

Daihatsu marketing director Franc Gamberini, who is still based at Inchcape’s offices in Dover, was unavailable for comment.

According to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders, Daihatsu’s sales have dropped by almost 53 per cent year on year. This partly reflects the decreased number of cars Inchcape has imported into the UK.