VCCP snatches £12m Hyundai ad business

Hyundai Car (UK) has awarded its £12m advertising business to Vallance Carruthers Coleman Priest (VCCP) after a final pitch against Abbott Mead Vickers.BBDO.

Hyundai Car (UK) has awarded its &£12m advertising business to Vallance Carruthers Coleman Priest (VCCP) after a final pitch against Abbott Mead Vickers.BBDO.

The review was overseen by Hyundai UK marketing director Jim Campbell. Banks Hoggins O’Shea/FCB, Atlas, and incumbent Leagas Delaney also pitched. Leagas Delaney had held the business since relaunching the brand in the UK in 1993.

Last week, the Korean car marque unveiled its new “soft” 4×4 at the Chicago Auto Show. The Tucson will be launched in the UK in the autumn and will compete with the Toyota RAV4, Suzuki Grand Vitara and Land Rover Freelander. Hyundai already sells nine models in the UK, including the Getz supermini and the Coupé.

In 2002, Hyundai began to offer its cars in the UK with a five-year unlimited-mileage transferrable warranty, promoted with a multi-million pound advertising campaign (MW January 31, 2002). Last year, Hyundai reviewed its direct marketing brief, awarding the account to Carlson Marketing Group. The company uses PHD Media for its media buying and planning. Hyundai Car (UK), the UK distributor, is owned by the RAC.