Only In China: Branded Parking Space

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Some of you may remember the “No Audi” signs at U.S. parking garages at the height of the unintended acceleration craze of the late 80s. In a garage in China, one can see the reverse: Only Audis, other cars go elsewhere.

The Audi-only parking was seen by Carnewschina seen in the gigantic underground parking of Terminal 3 at Beijing Capital Airport. According to a guard the owner of the lot does some revenue-enhancement with branded parking space. BMW and Benz will be next. Chery or Geely, move on.

(If I would have suggested something like this in Wolfsburg, I would have been declared insane.)

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • Oelmotor Oelmotor on Nov 16, 2012

    I`ll slap "the 4 rings" on a Yema F16 and park it there too. They won`t know the difference.

  • Stuntmonkey Stuntmonkey on Nov 16, 2012

    Must make it easier for the thieves when you have a big gigantic sign that says: "Rob here".

  • Icemilkcoffee Icemilkcoffee on Nov 16, 2012

    Don't the unionized auto plants in America also have segregated paring lots for union-made caras (ie. domestics) and non-union cars?

    • Danio3834 Danio3834 on Nov 16, 2012

      I know of several Detroit 3 facilities that give preferred parking to their own specific products, not necessarily UAW/CAW assembled though. I could see that at a UAW/CAW hall, but I've never actually been in one.

  • Wsn Wsn on Nov 18, 2012

    The description read "reserved parking for Audi owners". Can someone park a Lexus there, if he also owns an Audi? Shouldn't it read "reserved parking for Audi" instead?

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