Brands: Jeep Trumps Super Bowl with Online campaign

A Jeep spot released in advance of the Super Bowl has “shattered” the automaker’s online record by garnering over 106 million views. 

And the eight commercials released as part of Fiat Chrysler Automobile’s "Big Game Blitz" digital and social strategy have aggregated more than 169 million views — well beyond the estimated viewership for the game broadcast.

The previous record holder for FCA was last year's Big Game video from the Ram brand, "Icelandic Vikings," with over 28 million views.

The Jeep spot, "More Than Just Words,” created by Dallas-based The Richards Group, has been shared more than 200,000 times cumulatively across Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, with over 50,000 comments reflecting overwhelmingly positive sentiment. It is the most-viewed video in this year’s YouTube AdBlitz, which aggregates views for 90 of this year's Super Bowl spots.

The two-minute "More Than Just Words," a visual narration of "The Star-Spangled Banner" with music performed by OneRepublic, was released Jan. 31. The song serves as a catalyst to take viewers on an unexpected musical and visual odyssey, with images representing the song's lyrics. Social sentiment for the video has been overwhelmingly positive, with all comments 99% positive or neutral. 

This high social media engagement likely helped Jeep to build brand loyalty among younger, more digital-savvy consumers at a time when automakers have struggled to resonate with millennials, who are purchasing fewer vehicles than older generations, according to Marketing Div.

Jeep has embraced innovative digital formats in previous marketing to appeal to younger viewers. The brand teamed up with the World Surf League on a 360-degree video experience featuring WSL Championship Tour surfers as they drove around Oahu, Hawaii, in Jeep vehicles. Viewers could access the content on YouTube or via the "Jeep Sessions: Surfing in 360" mobile app.

The automaker recently shifted its U.S. media buying business from IPG to Publicis Group’s Starcom, following a six-month review.