Cannes Lions
WM MOTOR TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., Shanghai / WM MOTOR / 2019
Overview
Entries
Credits
Background
“We are not a traditional car company, we are a services company” - Freeman Shen, founder of Weltmeister Motors
The future of mobility is not a car, but rather an attitude towards life: Always On. Chinese start-up WM Motor has put this way of thinking at the centre of its brand. On the path to a smart era, the car is adapting to people. In doing so, a permanently networked vehicle is practical – but only the beginning of an exciting journey.
The brief: creating identity, moving people, changing the game.
With Weltmeister we didn’t just create a flexible corporate design. We created a vivid identity from scratch. The gut feeling and unsettled approach to re-define the way we travel from A to B. Being involved from the very beginning, we formed the heart, mind and soul of this holistically conceived brand.
Idea
The heart of a brand beats in time with the heart of its buyer: digitally. A post-90s generation that has a strong interest in social networks and networking. 211 million young Chinese who value sharing more than owning and who think ‘we’ is stronger than ‘I’. People who will not forgive a brand that breaks a promise. And people who are open for any kind of technology that makes life smarter and simpler.
A generation that is not afraid of the future. But is ready for it.
That’s why WM Motor wants to do much more than sell reliable electric cars. Apps and cooperations grant countless users access to smart, digital services of a brand that is rethinking mobility.
Weltmeister is on the way to an intelligent ecosystem that supports people on every step of their urban journey – 24/7.
Execution
What does the right logo look like for a brand with a digital soul? One that connects people, mobility and technology? We think the answer is a logo in motion. One that interacts. One that lives. The living logo is just as much an expression of artificial intelligence that seamlessly networks everything as it is a personal assistant for a mobile life.
It has become the face of the brand and its users.
Weltmeister’s digital concept is precise and structured. At the same time, the emotional imagery ensures warmth. The colours are powerful: pure white and deep blue form the background of a vibrant green colour gradient. A combination that gives a fresh platform, not only to the vehicles, but also to the people who are part of our movement. Young, open, urban, authentic, alive.
Functionally constructed - holistically thought. Ready to lead the way and change something.
Outcome
Together with Weltmeister, we have developed innovative digital assets that will open new opportunities not only for mobility, but also ways to build a strong community of like-minded consumers. Because Weltmeister is so much more than a car brand, it’s an ecosystem of digital services.
One example: Weltmeisters WeChat Stickers. With over 38 billion messages sent every day, WeChat is one of the worlds most commonly used communication platforms. Much of this chatter involves the use of playful, whimsical stickers. We developed the character “Ma Xiao Wei” (Little Weltmeister). This lovable hero is depicted in a series of animated stickers that were released for Beijing Motor Show 2018, and were quickly adopted by Weltmeisters’ target audience of post-90s consumers.
Creating a brand experience that will reach into the hearts, minds and messages of our Chinese audience.