The identity of the selected automotive brand based on the analysis of advertisements

Purpose: Specification of the identity of a selected automotive brand – Jeep on the basis of the analysis of the advertisement content and verification of its correspondence to the brand image presented in the literature. Design/methodology/approach: In order to determine the identity of the brand we analysed the content of 13 advertisements of the Jeep brand available on YouTube. Then we conducted the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the text. In the quantitative analysis we examined the frequency of the occurrence of the attributes. We carried out a comparative analysis of the content of the advertisements and the results of the research available in the literature. Findings: The identity of the Jeep brand corresponds to the one described in the literature. Both in the marketing message and in the analyses of the results of the study it is perceived as being connected with freedom, adventure, open space as well as the off-road style and endurance. However certain discrepancies have been observed. In the scientific literature no associations of the brand and the creation of the history and the legend has been noticed, nor the exhibition of the blood ties and attachment to the brand “family” and nor the promotion of the independent and active lifestyle has been noticed. Whereas in the advertisement message the properties of the brand concerning its roughness and harshness suggested by numerous authors do not exist. Practical implications: We obtained information about the selected automotive brand. This information shows which attributes build its identity, i.e. the image of the brand desired by its owner. On this ground we may decide on taking up the marketing activities (promotional and others) aiming to create the image of the brand corresponding to the owners’ intentions. Limitations: We analysed only the advertisements from the years 2007-2019 directed to the Polish market. This study should be treated as a pilot kind of the study. Originality/value: The comparison of the identity of the brand present in the advertisement message and scientific literature. We observed the correspondence of numerous attributes, as well as differences. The conclusions may contribute to the opening up of the discussion on the creation of the brand in the passenger cars market.