BMW wanted to assess the opportunity to develop a new vehicle, designed to fill a gap within a segment of the car market. The hypothesis was that there was a need for a car which combined the more 'practical' aspects of some of the current cars in the market place with 'emotional' elements relating to style and performance which were normally associated with other cars. BMW wanted, therefore, to undertake market research across the main European countries in order to assess the extent to which there was a potential for a car which combined: 'rational'/practical aspects; emotional/styling needs; and the ability to satisfy the requirements of the premium end of the targeted segment.
This paper describes the current situation within the German premium automotive market. It focuses on the contribution of strategic image research to successful brand management. In this context, the paper will reveal how success factors are identified and which are relevant for the premium market. The results are based on an up-to-date research study.