Audi in the TRANSPORTER franchise

In order to measure the overall visibility of Brands in entertainment, Concave Brand Tracking records an array of exposure metrics. These include screen time, logo/name visibility and product discernibility. When factoring in all of the above, we find that Audi receives slightly less total visibility in THE TRANSPORTER REFUELED (2015) than in TRANSPORTER 3 (2008). It did however receive substantially more than in TRANSPORTER 2 (2005). BMW in THE TRANSPORTER (2002) was less visible than Audi in any of the other movies. 

For a more in-depth view of the visibility we look at the various aspects of the Brands’ exposure. 

Audi has almost 10 minutes of screen time in THE TRANSPORTER REFUELED (2015). This is less than the 11 ½ minutes it had in TRANSPORTER 3 (2008) but far more than in TRANSPORTER 2 (2005) or BMW’s 6 ¾ minutes in THE TRANSPORTER (2002). 

In terms of how discernible the vehicles were in the various movies, we see that in around ¾ of their respective screen times they were all shown subtly. This mean they are clearly seen on screen but are not getting particular attention beyond their use. In THE TRANSPORTER REFUELED (2015), Audi is shown in an obvious way in 5% of its screen time vs. less than 1% in TRANSPORTER 3 (2008). These are shots that are solely meant to show the vehicle without being close-ups. There is also a decrease in the % of screen time in which Audi was seen in the background. It is only 13% in THE TRANSPORTER REFUELED (2015) vs. 22% on TRANSPORTER 3 (2008). 

Finally, Audi’s logo is visible in 90% of its screen time in THE TRANSPORTER REFUELED (2015). This is on par with the logo/name visibility in TRANSPORTER 3 (2008) and higher than in the first 2 movies. 

Before we look at each of the five individuallyDespite Audi having the same logo/name visibility in THE TRANSPORTER REFUELED (2015) as in TRANSPORTER 3 (2008) and having its vehicles shown more prominently, it does appear for less time on screen and hence it has slightly less overall visibility. Audi is however much more visible in THE TRANSPORTER REFUELED (2015) than in TRANSPORTER 2 (2005). 

 

If we look at movies more broadly, we see that Audi’s appearances in the TRANSPORTER movies are substantially more visible than in many other blockbusters. In its 3 TRANSPORTER movies, Audi is far more visible than in 2004’s I, ROBOT, 2013’s THE WOLVERINE or any IRON MAN movie. Audi’s appearances in 2015 blockbusters FIFTY SHADES OF GREY and AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON are also dwarfed by those in the TRANSPORTER movies., let’s take a quick look at the top 5 Brands for each movie across the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE franchise. 

If we expand to car Brands in general, we find that the Audi’s integration in the 2008 and 2015 TRANSPORTER installments are far more visible than any other car Brands in Concave Brand Tracking’s database. They supersede Chevrolet in all the TRANSFORMERS movies, Ford in NEED FOR SPEED (2014) as well as Dodge or any other single car Brand in the FAST & FURIOUS franchise. 

While Audi’s visibility remains similar in THE TRANSPORTER REFUELED (2015) as in TRANSPORTER 3 (2008) there has been a big shift in one aspect of its main user’s demographic profile. 

Other individuals were associated with Audi in the 2nd and 3rd installment of the TRANSPORTER franchise, but Jason Statham was by far the individual most associated with the Brand. In THE TRANSPORTER REFUELED (2015), Ed Skrein is the only individual associated with the 2012 Audi S8 D4. While he remains, like Statham, a white male, he is much younger than his predecessor. Though Jason Statham was 35 in THE TRANSPORTER (2002), he was 41 the year TRANSPORTER 3 (2008) came out. So while there in continuity with the gender and ethnicity of the main individual associated with Audi, the new cast choice results in a much younger driver. 

As the chart above shows, though Ed Skrein is one of the more youthful actors to use an Audi on screen in recent years, he is not quite the youngest. Rila Fukushima and Thandie Newton were both 28 when they drove Audis in THE WOLVERINE (2013) and MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE II (2000), respectively. They were also 2 of the few females to be highly associated with Audi. They both also happened to be some of the rare non-white Audi drivers in movies. Our chart shows that of the 10 individuals most associated with Audi in our database’s movies, beyond the two aforementioned females, the only non-white individual is Will Smith. 

 

This white male demographic trend is confirmed by Concave Brand Tracking’s analysis of yearly top 10 movies from 2003 to 2013. In that sample, 92% of Audi drivers were male and they were white in 99% of the Brand’s screen time. However, as a 32 year old, Ed Skrein is below the average age of individuals associated with Audi, 42. 

An important aspect of Brands in entertainment is the context in which they appear. This includes both where they are shown and how they are used. A bottle of champagne being served at a black tie event will be remembered very differently from one being chugged at a college party. Similarly a car being used in a government convoy will seem quite different from one being used to pick up kids from school. 

 

While the differences in Audi’s portrayal across the TRANSPORTER movies are not as extreme as the above examples, there are some interesting ones. 

In THE TRANSPORTER REFUELED (2015), Audi ss shown in the city far more than any other location. It is shown in the city in a higher % of sightings than in any of the previous movies. While the city was the main location for BMW in THE TRANSPORTER (2002) and Audi in TRANSPORTER 2 (2005), in TRANSPORTER 3 (2008) Jason Statham drove his A8 on open roads more than anywhere else. In contrast, open roads were only the 5th most common location for Audi in THE TRANSPORTER REFUELED (2015). 

The clear trend across the franchise is a lack of consistency in the Brands featured. 

 

Apple has been the most visible Brand in 2 of the movies and appeared in a total 3. However, only Apple, Oakley and Dell have ranked in the top 5 for more than a single movie. 

 

Furthermore, of the 17 different Brands to rank in the top 5 of all previous movies, only 3 appear in MISSION: IMPOSSBLE – ROGUE NATION (2015) at all. These are BMW, Land Rover and Dell. 

When Brands appear in entertainment they receive certain associations. These can come from the location in which they appear but are mostly due to how the products are used. A camera used by a journalist will be remembered as professional. A watch worn with a tuxedo will be seen as formal. A car charging of a bridge will be associated with speed, power and stunts. 

Unsurprisingly, the top association for the starring cars Brand across all 4 TRANSPORTER movies is transport. This includes transporting packages, people and sometimes even people in packages. In THE TRANSPORTER REFUELED (2015) the 2nd most common association is technology. While this association did appear in the previous movies, it never occurred as frequently or for as much screen time as in the latest movie. Ed Skrein is seen controlling his car with a mobile phone in the opening sequence and even sets it to drive itself later on in the movie. 

 

Speed is the 3rd most common association and is found in 13% of Audi’s scenes but in 31% of its screen time. This last metric was 26% in TRANSPORTER 2 (2005) and 34% in TRANSPORTER 3 (2008). 

 

While technology has become a much more important aspect of Audi’s portrayal in the TRANSPORTER franchise, speed and transport use remain its cornerstones. In terms of location however, Audi has gone from being shown as a long distance travel vehicle in TRANSPORTER 3 (2008) to a city vehicle in THE TRANSPORTER REFUELED (2015). 

 

Now if we look at Audi’s broader portrayal in Concave Brand Tracking’s analysis of yearly top 10 movies from 2003 to 2013 we find both difference and similarities with what is seen in the TRANSPORTER franchise. 

 

Firstly cities were by far the most common location with open roads and highways being the 2nd most common. This follows what is seen across all TRANSPORTER movies. 

In terms of associations, speed is the 2nd most common one for Audi, occurring in 18% of sightings and 26% of screen time in yearly top 10 movies from 2003 to 2013. This confirms speed as an important aspect of Audi’s Brand portrayal. However we found luxury to be the most common association for Audi. This association was highly emphasized in all 3 IRON MAN movies and was furthered this year in FIFTY SHADES OF GREY. It is however completely absent in the TRANSPORTER franchise. 

THE TRANSPORTER REFUELED (2015) continues its predecessors’ legacy of providing Audi with some of the highest visibility of any car Brand in the movie industry. From a demographic standpoint, Audi remains clearly targeted at white males, though Ed Skrein is amongst the youngest actors to star at the wheel of one of their vehicles. 

 

THE TRANSPORTER REFUELED (2015) also continues to portray Audi as a fast and agile sports car with high speed chases and incredible stunts both in cities and on open roads. It also builds on its predecessors’ hints of technology to show Audi’s S8 as an almost futuristic car. However, the one Audi Brand value which remains absent in this latest TRANSPORTER movies is that of luxury.