Best Car Commercials You Can Learn From
Creating a car commercial can feel overwhelming. You might be staring at a blank screen, trying to figure out how to bring your vision to life. That’s natural! No one expects you to come up with a creative concept off the top of their head. Instead, start by studying a few of the best car commercials for inspiration. How to Make a Commercial Video? This article will help you find the best car commercials to learn from, so you can confidently create your own stunning video.
One way to make this process easier is by partnering with educational video production services like Moonboat. We can help you identify your goals for your car commercial and find inspiration that aligns with them. Then, we’ll help you bring your vision to life.
13 Best Car Commercials Of All Time
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1. Honda: Forever Determined Mandarin
As you will see in the next automotive marketing campaigns, car brands are always willing to underscore their commitment to innovation. Honda’s Forever Determined campaign is an exact example of that approach. A notable manifestation of this campaign was Honda’s float in the 134th Rose Parade on January 2, 2023.
The float showcased Honda’s great number of mobility products from the past and present, including:
- The Prologue Honda’s first all-electric SUV
- The electrified Acura ARX-06 race car,
- An electric motorcycle
- The HondaJet Elite II aircraft
Driving Spirit
Honda has always been a company driven by dreams. When faced with a challenge, we overcome it with sheer determination. That spirit has sparked industry-leading successes, and it’s what will take us forward into the future.
2. Volvo Trucks: The Epic Split feat. Van Damme
This one is undoubtedly a legend in the automotive marketing industry. The 2013 advertisement featuring Jean-Claude Van Damme performing a remarkable split between two reversing trucks was designed to showcase the precision and stability of Volvo’s Dynamic Steering system.
This live test was set up to demonstrate the precision and directional stability of Volvo Dynamic Steering, a world-first technology that makes the Volvo FM easier to drive. It was filmed in Spain on a closed-off landing field at sunrise in one take.
Viral Impact
As you already know, the ad quickly went viral, amassing millions of views within days and receiving widespread acclaim for its creativity and execution. Its status as a benchmark for innovative marketing has been cemented in automotive history and referenced innumerable times.
3. Volvo Cars: A Million More
Except for The Epic Split ads, Volvo has released marketing campaigns highlighting safety, in compliance with the brand's main value proposition. As a great example, the brand launched A Million More back in 2020, which reflects the initial public resistance to the three-point safety belt.
As you may know, Volvo introduced these safety belts in 1959, which have since been credited with saving over a million lives. Ideas that change the world are often the most controversial. After Volvo introduced the 3-point safety belt in 1959, people reacted with:
- Skepticism
- Doubt
- Anger
Saving Lives
To date, it has saved more than a million lives. In 2020, we introduced speed limits on all our new cars. As the next step in car safety, we will introduce in-car cameras to prevent intoxicated and distracted driving. Because sometimes you have to believe when others don’t.
4. Volvo Cars: The E.V.A. Initiative: Equal Vehicles for All
Here is another safety-focused ad from Volvo. Launched in 2019, the campaign addresses the need for vehicle designs that protect all occupants equally, regardless of:
- Gender
- Age
- Shape
Automotive safety tests predominantly utilize crash test dummies modeled after the average male physique, leading to a higher risk of injury for women in car accidents. Volvo has collected real-world crash data since the 1970s, encompassing diverse body types to counter this bias. Women are more likely to get injured in a car crash.
Inclusive Safety
Partly because male crash test dummies are the standard. But at Volvo Cars, we have collected crash data for more than 40 years to protect all people, regardless of:
- Size
- Gender
- Body shape
This has taught us a lot and has made our cars safer yearly. To improve gender equality in all cars, we are now sharing our research with the rest of the car industry. This will lead to safer cars for everyone.
5. Audi: Ski Jump
Audi, which is most famous for its Keys advertisements, has launched several successful marketing campaigns, including Ski Jump. Renowned for its iconic imagery of the Quattro all-wheel-drive system, the ad, released in 1986 and revisited in 2005:
- Set a new standard for automotive advertising
- Solidified the brand’s reputation for excellence
This is a recreation of the Classic 1986 Audi commercial. While climbing the dangerously steep ski jump, our legendary quattro® all-wheel drive shows off its incredible gripping power.
6. Audi: 4 Key Rings
The 2009-dated campaign is a prime example of effective symbolic advertising, centered around four key rings, each representing a key attribute of a competitor:
- Alfa Romeo (design)
- Mercedes-Benz (comfort)
- Volvo (safety)
- BMW (sportiness)
This direct comparison generated significant buzz and cemented the ad’s memorability. The simplicity of the visual, combined with the subtle humor, made the 4 Key Rings campaign a resounding success, demonstrating the power of symbolism and direct comparison in automotive advertising.
7. BMW: The Gift
Holidays, particularly Christmas, make excellent themes for automotive ads, and BMW marketing takes advantage of it. BMW’s Christmas-themed ad tells the story of a young child who longs for one of the company’s vehicles. The ad concludes with the boy’s delighted expression, suggesting that the experience was the best gift he could have asked for.
8. BMW: S1000 RR. Dinner for RR
Let’s continue with a classic example of using humor and storytelling to create a memorable automotive commercial. Going from zero to 100km/h (62 mph) in just 2.9 seconds sounds very nice. But would that help in our XXXL experiment? Don’t try this at home with your dishes, or your mom’s ones.
The ad is:
- Funny
- Engaging
- Memorable
Performance Showcase
It effectively communicates the excitement and thrill of riding a BMW S1000 RR while showcasing the bike’s performance capabilities.
9. Ford: Mustang Shelby GT ‘Police Chase’
How can you show your vehicle’s speed, handling, and overall coolness in a single ad? Ford’s Police Chase answers that question. The high-octane, action-packed commercial typically depicts a Shelby GT being pursued by police cars, but the chase is presented in a playful and exhilarating way, rather than a serious or dangerous one.
This type of creative and engaging advertising is often the work of experienced automotive marketing agencies in the USA, who specialize in capturing the essence of a brand and its vehicles.
10. Mercedes-Benz: ‘Chicken’ MAGIC BODY CONTROL
Another car commercial that uses humor is from Mercedes-Benz. The viral ad (just on YouTube, seen more than 30 million times) features chickens whose heads are remarkably stable even when their bodies are moved, demonstrating the natural suspension they possess.
It’s a testament to the power of creative advertising and how a simple, unexpected image can effectively convey a brand’s message. As part of Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive, MAGIC BODY CONTROL ensures optimum driving comfort.
11. Mercedes-Benz: Bertha Benz: The Journey That Changed Everything
Even though we adore Mercedes’s digital marketing campaigns, the brand’s traditional advertising touch is also worthy of praise. Here is a tribute to Bertha Benz, the wife of Karl Benz, who made the first long-distance journey in a car in 1888.
The ad, praised for its historical references, tells the story of Bertha’s daring adventure, from her preps and challenges to her triumphant arrival. In a time when car was not even a word yet, and people relied on horses to pull their wagons, one woman challenged the status quo.
Pioneering Journey
To prove to the world that her husband’s invention was the future of mobility, Bertha Benz went on the first long-distance journey with an automobile, facing all kinds of challenges but stopping at nothing. The rest, as they say, is history.
12. Hyundai x BTS: For the Earth 60 sec
Even though we can’t call it a legendary example of automotive marketing, the Hyundai x BTS ad shows how important it is to team up with the right figures to reach people. It’s been seen more than 100 million times on YouTube.
Released on Earth Day, the ad features the members of BTS, a popular South Korean boy band, singing about the need to take care of the Earth. Even though we can’t call it a legendary example of automotive marketing.
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10 Best Tips For Creating Car Commercials
1. Understand Your Audience
Nail your target demographic before you even think about pressing record. Are you aiming your commercial at first-time car buyers, busy parents prioritizing safety and reliability, or luxury enthusiasts who want performance and prestige? Your audience will influence everything from your chosen music to how you frame your message.
Tailoring your commercial to resonate with a specific group makes your message more persuasive and personal.
2. Tell a Story
Every good car commercial has a story behind it. That story could be about a customer’s journey, a day in the life of a driver, or the adventure your vehicle unlocks. Why does this matter? Because people don’t just buy cars.
They buy experiences, identity, and emotion. A story grabs attention, builds connection, and sticks in the viewer’s mind far longer than a price tag ever could.
3. Showcase Cars in Action
A parked car is nice. A car in motion is better. Whether it’s winding through a mountain road, cruising downtown, or powering through snow, show the vehicle doing what it does best. Highlight key features in real-world scenarios, such as:
- Handling
- Acceleration
- Infotainment
- Safety tech
Seeing is believing, and this is where visual storytelling makes the sale.
4. Use Customer Testimonials
Want to build instant trust? Let your happy customers do the talking. Short clips of real people sharing their experience with your dealership or brand can be incredibly powerful. It turns your commercial from a sales pitch into a conversation between peers. Testimonials feel authentic, which is gold in today’s digital marketing landscape.
5. Highlight Special Deals or Offers
If you’ve got a limited-time deal, seasonal promotion, or financing special, don’t bury it. Put it:
- Front
- Center
Incentives add urgency and can be the nudge someone needs to take action. Just be sure to clearly explain the offer and any important terms in a way that’s easy to understand.
6. Create a Strong Call to Action
Decide what you want the viewer to do next. Do you want them to visit your website, schedule a test drive, or call the dealership? Whatever it is, make it loud and clear. A strong call to action (CTA) doesn’t just end the video; it moves the viewer toward conversion. If possible, pair it with:
- Visuals (like a phone number or URL on screen)
- Voiceover
7. Keep It Short and Engaging
Car commercials don’t need to be long to be effective. In fact, under two minutes is often ideal, especially on social media, where attention spans are short.
- Hook your audience in the first 5 seconds
- Keep the visuals exciting
- Don’t overload them with too much information
- Edit tightly
- Make every frame count
8. Leverage Social Media
Once your video is ready, it’s time to distribute. Post it where your audience hangs out, depending on your niche, such as:
- YouTube
- TikTok
To boost visibility, use:
- Captions
- Eye-catching thumbnails
- Hashtags
Content Longevity
And don’t just post once. Repurpose snippets or behind-the-scenes content to keep the campaign alive.
9. Optimize for Search
Want more eyeballs without paying for ads? Search optimization is your friend. Add relevant keywords like your dealership’s name, location, car model, or promo type in the:
- Video title
- Description
- Tags
This helps your content appear when people are actively searching for car-related solutions.
10. Monitor Performance
Don’t set it and forget it. To track how your video is performing, use tools like:
- YouTube Analytics
- Meta Insights
- Google Ads
- Reports
Performance Metrics
Pay attention to:
- Watch time
- Click-through rates
- CTA engagement
These insights will tell you what’s working, and what to do differently in your next commercial.
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