Blake Griffin may not be too happy about the Kia K900 King James edition. The Clippers forward has been a spokesperson for the Korean car company for some time, but LeBron is the one getting his own special edition car. King James is the biggest name in the NBA, so it only makes sense that Kia would want to work with him.
Little is known about the Kia K900 King James. The lone teaser image shows a red and black color scheme and a custom "King James Edition" badge. The K900 hasn't been doing so well against its European competition, with sales number dragging quite badly. Partnering with basketball's brightest star may not help sell more cars but it should increase awareness at the very least.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Athlete-inspired Cars
- There is an opportunity to create more athlete-branded cars, which may appeal to sports fans and collectors alike.
- Custom Car Badges
- Creating unique badges for special edition cars is a trend that can further personalize vehicles and make them more collectible.
- Marketing Through Partnerships
- Partnering with celebrities continues to be a successful marketing strategy and provides an opportunity to reach a broader audience.
Where This Applies
- Automotive
- Automakers can license athlete's brands and collaborate to produce new car models for sports enthusiasts.
- Sports
- The sports industry can offer partnerships with car companies to co-brand products and offer exclusive merchandise to fans.
- Collectibles
- The collectibles industry can feature unique car badges as sought-after items for enthusiasts and collectors.
