• Automotive News, Monday, January 18, 2010 10:51 AM

GMC could drop TV commercials altogether in marketing its Granite compact crossover, according to Steve Rosenblum, Buick-GMC's director of advertising and promotions. A Granite concept was unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show last week. Targeted to consumers younger than 35, Rosenblum says GMC needs new types of advertising for young shoppers.

GMC has developed a brochure with bar-code-type designs called quick response codes that smartphones can read, Chrissie Thompson reports. Phones scan the codes and point consumers to Web pages that give details on the Granite's features, offer opportunities for social networking and discuss designers' inspirations for the concept. Studies show that by 2011, two-thirds of cell phone sales to people under 40 will be smartphones, Rosenblum says.

Meanwhile, GMC is using a YouTube site, "Terrain's World," to market the Terrain crossover vehicle launched last summer.

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