Pods Unite: Buy A Beetle, Get A Free iPod

by , 2:00 PM EDT, July 15th, 2003

Apple and Volkswagen have announced a very interesting new promotion called Pods Unite. If you buy a new Beetle from Volkswagen, you can get a 15 GB iPod and a "Volkswagen iPod connectivity kit." The iPods are engraved with the Volkswagen Driver's Wanted logo, and you also get a coupon good for US$100 off any purchase at Apple's online Apple Store (on purchases of US$999 or more). According to the two companies, the promo is going to be featured prominently on TV, local radio, and newspaper. From the press release:

Adhering to the philosophy that one good thing deserves another, two icons of American popular culture -- Volkswagen and Apple Computers -- are joining forces to provide 2003 New Beetle sedan buyers with a complimentary Apple iPod, the world's top-selling digital music player.

Volkswagen of America, Inc. and Apple Computers have dubbed the new initiative: "Pods Unite." The pairing begins today and will be featured prominently in a TV, local radio and newspaper, nationwide print, broadcast media and e-commerce campaign, through the end of September. Sleek iPod displays will also adorn Volkswagen dealer showrooms.

Fans of the New Beetle's unique combination of innovative design and engineering will similarly find themselves enticed by the iPod's impressive ultra-portability and elegant design. Apple's wildly popular and powerful iPod digital music player possesses a 15-gigabyte hard drive with storage space for more than 3,700 songs, which will allow New Beetle drivers to go mobile with an entire music collection that fits in the palm of their hand and neatly in the car. Volkswagen's iPod connectivity kit completes the pairing, with the ability to create and remotely access a road-ready digital music library. Together, the estimated retail value of the iPod and VW connectivity kit is about $600.

The iPod lets users scroll through their entire music collection to quickly and easily find a particular song, artist or play list. Each New Beetle iPod is custom-engraved with Volkswagen's "Drivers Wanted" logo and comes with a coupon for $100 off a purchase of $999 or more, from apple.com, Volkswagen's exclusive Street Mix CD collection, a free e-book from audible.com, a VW Music-zine, and a "Pods Unite" window sticker.

"Apple's audience is a lot like our audience," said Karen Marderosian, Volkswagen Marketing Director. "A group that embraces something different, simple and unconventional. We think this initiative represents a natural alliance of two like-minded brands."

The New Beetle iPod initiative also features additional value incentives to current Volkswagen and Apple computer owners. Up to 25,000 Volkswagen owners will be offered a $50 gift certificate at Amazon.com if they test drive the New Beetle with the iPod system. A like number of current Apple owners who take a test drive will qualify for a $50 gift certificate at apple.com.

The New Beetle iPod is available for Mac or Windows platforms; it features touch sensitive controls, a back lit LCD screen, illuminated buttons and an eight-hour rechargeable lithium ion battery. FireWire and USB 2.0 connections allow for super fast music transfers and access to contacts, calendars, to-do lists and text note.

The iPod promotion is available to United States customers only and is not available in New Beetle convertible models.

You will need to check with your local VW distributorship for more information. As of this writing, we were unable to find an information page on VW's site for the new promo.

The Mac Observer Spin:

We like this promo, but we like the fact that it will be promoted on TV, radio, and newspaper even more. We also like the pairing of the iPod with the Beetle. That's a very good association to place in some people's mind, especially young people.