Free car and gas for Facebook product plugs.
Ford Motor Company is looking for 2010 Fusion and Fusion Hybrid owners to participate in a publicity stunt dubbed Fusion 41, which is an automotive relay race designed to build awareness around the all-new Fusion.
The Fusion owner of the winning team will have their vehicle paid off, and team members will win free gas for one year.
Eight Fusion owners from throughout the country will be selected to participate in the program. They will be chosen based on their “passion” for Fusion and their ability to share “compelling information” about the vehicle on the Internet. Applicants must have a current Facebook profile with a minimum of 100 friends and an active photo collection. (Apply at www.fusion41.com before November 6.)
Each of the eight Fusion owners will then choose four friends or family members to join their team, and each team will be given a 2010 Ford Fusion or Fusion Hybrid to drive in an automotive relay race. To complete the relay, each team member must fulfill an assigned task within 41 hours, tracking competitive variables such as miles driven, stops made or the number of passengers picked up.
The program is named for the 41 mpg fuel economy that makes Fusion America’s most fuel-efficient mid-size sedan, and the 41 participants.
The winning team will be chosen based on their ability to complete the activities and provide proof by uploading photos and videos to various social media sites, including Facebook.
The Fusion owner of the winning team will have their vehicle paid off, and team members will win free gas for one year.
“Fusion 41 is a fun way to engage customers and get them talking about the all-new 2010 Fusion,” said Jeff Eggen, Ford Car Experiential Marketing manager. “There’s no better way to spread the word about our new products than by putting them into the hands of prospective customers and enabling them to experience our vehicles firsthand.”
Ford says that research shows that social media sites are increasingly one of the best ways to reach out to consumers. Prior to the development of the Fusion 41 program, Ford expanded its presence on Facebook with a new application for its “Fusion + Hybrid” profile called “You Speak Green” that enables visitors to share their sustainable lifestyle suggestions. Since its launch in mid-July, more than 104,000 Facebook users have downloaded the application to their profile pages and 15,000 have posted tips.