Reports

    Week In Review: August 5-9, 2013

    In case you missed them the first time around, here are some of Jing Daily’s top posts for the week of August 5-9.
    Jing Daily

    In case you missed them the first time around, here are some of Jing Daily’s top posts for the week of August 5-9:

    WeChat 5.0: How Brands Can Gain Big From Powerful New Features#

    Yesterday, Tencent WeChat released its version 5.0, the product’s biggest update since it launched in January 2011. As part of the company’s goal to transform WeChat into a truly global messaging service, the upgrade features not only several new tools to dramatically enhance the general user experience, but also a new structure to organize the B2C accounts on the app.

    The general consumer experience will now see more social sharing, games, payment system integration, and location-based functions. These new benefits will be accompanied by a better user experience and clearer structure for business accounts as well.

    Is BMW Caught In China’s Bad PR Crosshairs?#

    The BMW 5 series from the BMW Brilliance joint venture, which was recently recalled.

    After BMW was denied governmental permission to expand one of its joint-venture China factories last week, today’s news that it will be recalling 140,000 vehicles in the country appears quite suspect in its timing considering the government’s penchant for negative publicity campaigns against foreign companies.

    According to reports, the recall is associated with problems concerning the power steering systems on 5-series vehicles produced in China over the past four years under BMW’s joint venture with Chinese company Brilliance. Last week, China’s environmental ministry denied the joint venture permission to expand its annual production capacity from around 200,000 to 400,000 vehicles in a factory in Shenyang.

    Volkswagen Enlists Keanu Reeves For Action-Packed Branded Micro-Film#

    Anyone who has seen a classic James Bond car chase scene knows the powerful marketing value that action film placement can lend to automakers. Since martial arts reign supreme as China’s preferred outlet for action, Volkswagen decided to take matters into its own hands this summer by making its own branded “micro-film” with as many images of zooming luxury vehicles as it can fit into 16 minutes.

    Paris Steps Up Efforts To Safeguard Chinese Tourists’ Cash-Filled Pockets#

    The Chanel Store in Paris.

    Known for carrying large wads of cash, Chinese tourists in Paris have long been a major target for pickpockets, but the French government has now decided to step in and do something about it in order to make sure that cash stops going to thieves and keeps going into the country’s economy.

    According to Reuters, France recently announced that it is ramping up security in tourist-heavy areas in order to crack down on rampant thefts, especially of Asian tourists.

    China: This Week In Digital Luxury Marketing#

    A roundup of new and ongoing campaigns in China through August 20, featuring Marie Claire, Diesel, Chow Tai Fook, Infiniti, and Guess.

    With Chinese Valentine’s Day (七夕节) around the corner, women’s magazine Marie Claire invites its fans — single, in a relationship, or married — to share their dream honeymoon or their unforgettable honeymoon experience. Now through August 20, participants are asked to write a post with at least 100 words and five pictures, titled “Honeymoon Trip” on Marie Claire’s travel forum. Top eight participants will be awarded a “Best Bride Prize” — an Avène Tolerance Extreme set; five participants will be awarded an “Amour Prize” — a white Marie Claire travel bag.

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