Actor: Thank you.

Car endorsement has always been a big deal among celebrity endorsements.

Especially before the traffic era and the automobile market entered the electric car era.

The people that car brands will look for are basically the leaders in their respective industries.

Middle-aged male stars such as Liu Dehua, Guo Fucheng, and Cheng Daoming are the most popular.

Next are the first-tier female stars such as Fan Bingbing and Karen Mok who prefer a sexy and high-end style.

Of course, there are also times when hiring celebrities to endorse products.

For example, in 07, Cadillac asked Liu Xiang to be its spokesperson. However, he was injured in 08 and withdrew from the Olympics. He was scolded by audiences across the country, and the brand also suffered badly.

Liu Xiang's case fully illustrates the cruelty of competitive sports.

Some leaders in our country's sports world really do not treat athletes as human beings. Whenever something happens, they use athletes to take the blame and face the criticism of public opinion.

The then head of Shanghai Sports forced the flying man to play with injuries, and he hid away when something happened.

This person did not end up well later. He later went to the Chinese Super League to serve as vice chairman, and was dismissed and sentenced to 11 years in prison.

In addition to Liu Xiang, Fan Bingbing also served as a spokesperson for Renault in later years.

As a result, just a few months after the signing and promotion with great fanfare, Fan Bingbing was ruined because of 800 million yuan.

This is also purely bad luck for the brand.

Who knows these bits will suddenly go wrong.

Of course, there are also people who know that the spokesperson has problems but still use him/her.

For example, Mr. Wei, the boss of Great Wall, and his wonderful daughter.

Not only did they find a controversial talk show actress to endorse a model designed for female users under their brand, but they also named the green color of the car "Forgiveness Green"...

This "gifted girl" probably thinks she is very humorous and trendy.

The main reason why Volkswagen, or SAIC Volkswagen to be more precise, approached Zhang Yuan to discuss endorsement this time was because of that car race and the fact that the Ho family put him on the cover of "Huaxia Sports" magazine in order to promote charity and sports.

Based on his current fame and ability, he is actually not qualified to take on car advertisements.

If "The Banquet" and "Curse of the Golden Flower" are completed and aired next year, maybe it will be okay.

But now just one "Yang Guo" is not enough.

However, that charity race was originally sponsored by SAIC Volkswagen, and their factory is not far from the Shanghai Race Circuit.

The racing car used is also a modified version of POLO. Although the car is no longer a micro DO, basically only the outer skin remains the original car.

In addition, the incident of Zhang Yuan rescuing Xiang Zuo from the car was not only reported on the Shanghai evening news, but also by major media outlets.

This made SAIC Volkswagen interested in him.

"Mr. Zhang, please take a seat."

After arriving at the Volkswagen factory in JD District, he was personally received by the deputy general manager of the corporate publicity department.

"What we want to discuss with you this time is the endorsement of a single model."

Zhang Yuan was not surprised by this.

Car companies, especially large ones, rarely have a single brand spokesperson; most of them are hired based on car models.

"As for the specific model, it is the POLO that you drive during the competition."

In addition to racing related events.

There are other reasons why SAIC Volkswagen chose him.

The sales volume of POLO models dropped sharply last year!
Only 25000 were sold in a year.

This number is actually very scary. The annual sales of many small car companies in later generations cannot reach the annual sales of this car.

But there were only a few car brands to choose from back then, and the demand for household cars was growing rapidly, so it was a good time to make crazy money.

In 04, more than 36000 POLOs were sold.

Seeing that the sales volume of its models has dropped by nearly 30%, SAIC must be anxious.

The target customers of the POLO model are young women who have a little money, but not much.

This positioning just hits Zhang Yuan’s comfort zone!

SAIC also conducted market research and found that not only was he connected to the brand, but his personal image and positioning were also quite suitable.

After chatting for a while and roughly discussing the goals, the other party took out a business plan.

It indicates the number of activities the other party expects, including press conferences, media meetings, advertising shoots, on-site roadshows... and the most important point, the price.

"Mr. Zhang Yuan, our offer to you is very sincere: six million for two years."

"Six million per year?"

"Six million in total."

Zhang Yuan: …

Is this sincerity?
Aokang leather shoes give much more than you!
They have also been sanctioned by the European Union.

Three million a year, and they also organized a lot of troublesome activities for me.

Isn’t this bullying an honest person?

"This price is a bit low." Zhang Yuan told the truth.

300 million a year is basically the price he gets for endorsing home appliances.

Can a car be like a home appliance?

"In fact, we originally wanted to ask Jay Chou to be the spokesperson."

"But I think you are more suitable." The manager replied immediately.

Yo ho!

Is this a threat to me?
If you don’t do it, others will!

Although SAIC Volkswagen is a joint venture, it has all the problems of a state-owned enterprise.

It seems that you are the ones who looked down on Hua Wei in later generations and declared that you would never cooperate with him.

Awesome, awesome, awesome…

"In fact, this endorsement is a mutually beneficial thing." The other party continued.

"I know that in your film and entertainment industry, there is actually a hierarchy."

“Getting endorsements from big brands can also help the artist’s own fame.”

Zhang Yuan: …

You mean you're flattering me?

I asked you to do something because I think highly of you...

Faced with the other party's continuous "leadership speeches", Zhang Yuan had a lot to complain about and didn't know where to complain.

I came here overnight just to do this for me, right?

There is money to be made, but I am not happy about it!
I was forced to make money by others, which made me feel like a lady.

Although there are indeed many people in our industry who sell their bodies instead of their skills...

"Okay, I'll think about it." Zhang Yuan didn't get angry, and chatted with the other party with a smile on his face for a while.

The manager was also polite and sent him to the company gate.

"Brother Zhang Yuan, what should we do next?" Assistant Zhao Xinxin could see that the boss was unhappy.

"It's okay, let's find a place and eat."

"Then I'll make a phone call."

After finding a local restaurant, the two sat down.

Zhang Yuan called Huo Qigang.

"Mr. Ho, since we intend to hold a charity race next year."

"I think we should start preparing early."

"Attract investment in advance and find cooperative units."

"Let me plan the contact."

Seeing that he was very enthusiastic, the eldest son of the Huo family was quite satisfied.

Because of the racing event he organized two days ago, he was praised by his family.

Zhang Yuan breathed a sigh of relief after the other party agreed.

"Brother Zhang Yuan, do you want to use this matter to negotiate with SAIC?"

After following Zhang Yuan for a long time, Zhao Xinxin also began to try to use his brain and became more flexible in his words and deeds.

However, it’s not enough to turn.

"SAIC is the country's top automaker."

"You are threatening him in person by using the racing issue as a bargaining chip in your negotiation with him."

"Will there be any good results from threatening state-owned enterprises in person?"

Zhang Yuan said seriously.

"What should we do then?" the assistant asked puzzled.

"You definitely can't threaten someone in person...but you can threaten them quietly from behind."

"We have to do things decently."

Zhao Xunxun: ...

Zhao Xunxun felt that those beautiful women might just like their boss's handsome and badass look.

Zhang Yuan immediately contacted Volkswagen.

But it’s not SAIC, it’s FAW!
In fact, Volkswagen's most iconic vehicle is not the POLO, but the Golf, especially the performance model Golf GTI, which is a classic series that has been popular in the automotive industry for decades.

The domestic production line of Golf is at FAW.

A well-known joke about Volkswagen is that everything originated from golf.

POLO is a mini golf.

Tiguan is Golf PRO.

Touareg is Golf PLUS.

The Cayenne is the Golf PRO MAX...

Although it is exaggerated, it is not entirely fictional.

Because the Golf production line is not only owned by FAW, but also by SAIC!
But SAIC was only authorized to use this production line to manufacture a small MPV called Touran.

These two cars actually come off the same production line.

As FAW and SAIC are both joint ventures between Volkswagen and state-owned enterprises, they cannot be said to be close to each other, but rather to be enemies.

There is naked hatred among colleagues!

Internal competition among joint venture cars of the same brand in different regions is an old tradition in China.

The battle between SAIC and FAW was even more intense.

This is a typical competition between southern and northern car companies.

Similar companies include Dongfeng Honda and GAC Honda.

FAW Toyota and GAC Toyota.

It’s easy to deal with other companies, but the two companies with similar production lines can be directly compared.

Especially the POLO and Golf models, both of which are young, fashionable and sporty.

Both cars also have their own cup competitions in China, which are organized by FAW and SAIC.

When FAW heard about the sponsorship of racing cars, they almost laughed out loud.

They all saw how exciting the competition was, and were worried that they wouldn't be able to join in.

If you don't do it, there are plenty of people who will... Zhang Yuan is trying to get his message back to SAIC in this way.

But within a day or two, SAIC called Zhang Yuan again.

Invite him to visit the factory.

He ran over happily again.

The person who came to pick him up this time was not the manager of the corporate publicity department, but the president's assistant.

Even though they are just assistants, just like the mayor's secretaries, ordinary bureau-level officials have to be polite when they meet them, after all, they represent the big boss.

First, I took him to visit the cultural museum inside the company, and then I took him around the production line and gave him an introduction.

Then he was led into the high-level meeting room.

His attitude was very warm and polite, and he even made tea for him personally.

You're welcome.

After the deputy general manager found out that Zhang Yuan had contacted FAW, the deputy manager of the corporate publicity department was severely scolded and detained in the president's office for more than half an hour.

"If a Volkswagen car appears at the Magic City racetrack."

"But the car model is FAW's."

"Then we at SAIC have lost all our face!"

The president gets a toothache just thinking about FAW cars running on SAIC's land.

I don’t know how my peers will laugh at me.

It will definitely become the joke of the year in the automotive industry.

So he kicked the people from the publicity department out and let his own subordinates handle it.

"You have discussed the endorsement with our people before..."

"Don't worry." Zhang Yuan interrupted him as he started to speak.

"Let's talk about the charity racing sponsorship for next year first."

"Okay!" The assistant immediately agreed with a smile.

It seems that this person still puts work first... this person thought.

The reason why Zhang Yuan dared to do this was because he was carrying the reputation of the Huo family.

Since you are carrying someone else's name, it is only right and reasonable that you should do things for them first.

Otherwise, how will people see you?

Anyone would turn a blind eye if they can get benefits while doing the job.

If you are only trying to gain benefits and stop doing anything, you will lose support.

“The racing event was a great success.”

"At the leadership meeting, everyone agreed to increase sponsorship..."

The other party gave a brief explanation.

This year, SAIC Volkswagen provided 800 million in sponsorship and is willing to increase it to 1200 million next year.

But the condition is also more opportunities for display, including the exhibition of the company's new models.

What the other party meant was to have a group of middle-aged ladies dance in front of the cars lined up in a row, just like at a car show.

In those days, car shows were not restricted, and the models wearing revealing clothes attracted a large group of photography enthusiasts every year.

And the trend is getting worse, with various borderline behaviors taking place one after another.

At that time, when a car show was held, the whole city was frozen...

The clothes worn by those models, even if you took ten of them and sewed them together, you couldn't even make a backless skirt. The pieces were as broken as Brother Qian's pants.

In 15, the authorities could no longer stand it and issued a model restriction order, which greatly suppressed this kind of entertainment activities that the people loved.

Can the Huo family’s charity activities do this?
Zhang Yuan immediately refused.

But he promised to use SAIC's new vehicles when organizing celebrity parades.

When the charity auction is organized, the vehicles provided by SAIC will also be included as items, and it is promised that the price will be hyped up.

You give me a car priced at 300,000 yuan, and I organize celebrities to raise the price to 1 million yuan, and then the news will come out.

The other party was very satisfied with this and quickly reached a verbal agreement.

The specific details and contract still need to be signed with the Huo family.

Zhang Yuan agreed to act as a middleman to pass the message.

"Regarding the endorsement fees for the POLO model, we did lack research before and don't understand your market conditions." After talking about this, the other party moved on to the next topic.

In fact, both sides understand that this is just an excuse.

How could I not know Zhang Yuan’s current situation?

"We are willing to double the previous price, six million per year, and sign a two-year car model endorsement contract with you."

Zhang Yuan understood immediately that the other party not only knew his market situation, but also understood it very clearly.

This price is higher than that offered by Okan leather shoes and is on par with the "sky-high price" offered by Adidas.

He had expected to break his own record for endorsement fees with this endorsement.

But then I thought again and decided not to go too far.

The other person has already made concessions, so the next step is to treat each other as friends and get along well.

Besides, as long as I have a charity racing car in hand and compete in Shanghai every year, cooperation with SAIC is inevitable.

With this competition, I will eat you for the rest of my life!

After verbal agreement, the two parties set a signing date and then discussed the contract details.

This is not something that can be accomplished in a day or two, we have to take it slow.

This end is finally finished.

After going out, Zhang Yuan patted his trouser pockets.

"There's more money coming to my account, so cool!"

I talked to Cheng Hao about this and asked her to help me find my usual contract lawyer to handle the matter.

"Car endorsement, that's awesome!" Cheng Hao praised in a high-pitched voice.

She also endorses a vehicle, but it's a two-wheeled electric vehicle...

Of course, it can't be compared with Volkswagen, even if it's just the cheapest model.

And the cheaper the car model, the more it needs a spokesperson.

People who buy Rolls-Royces don't watch ads.

Customers with limited budgets are the most picky and entangled.

"By the way, there is something going on." After chatting for a while and enjoying the compliments from her good sister, she changed the subject.

"It was quite a coincidence that a drama contacted Chang Chang and Bao Qiang at the same time and wanted them to play the leading roles."

"But I'm a little hesitant. I always feel that this movie is not serious enough."

"So I want to ask you, should we let them go?"

"What movie?" Zhang Yuan asked curiously.

"It's called "Legendary Fantasy Yin Shang"..." (End of this chapter)