May proved to be a month of good news, particularly for the UK manufacturers. The state of the country’s automotive industry and its impact on the economy, increased demand for Minis and news that Vauxhall’s plant in Ellesmere will not be closed – those are just a few of many exciting stories dominating the Gorkana Automotive Barometer in May.
Government and Employment Topics Dominate Mainstream Media
The government put a lot of faith in the UK car industry and its positive impact on the country’s economic recovery. It seems like this confidence paid off! The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders unveiled in May that the number of cars built in the UK continues to grow and the country remains “one of the most competitive locations for global automotive companies”.
The results of the study came with news that Vauxhall’s car plant in Ellesmere has been saved from closure. The united efforts of Vauxhall, the government and the unions secured more than 2,000 jobs and created further 700. Articles reporting the good news accounted for more than a third (36%) of Vauxhall mainstream media pieces and boosted its presence within hatchback mentions.
Twitter Goes Crazy on Forza
Further, the May results once again show that not only ‘offline’ counts. Porsche’s social media volumes went through the roof as Twitter users discussed the release of Forza 4 and the car models featuring in the game. The GT3 seemed to be the favourite, and hashtags #Porsche and #forza4 helped to promote both the brand and the game. As a result of the Forza craze Porsche moved from 16th to 12th position in Gorkana’s Automotive League Table for social media.
With over 73,000 mainstream and 410,000 social media pieces, it’s impossible to mention all stories shaking the automotive industry in May. To find out more, email us or visit this site.
