Kia’s Nostalgic Nod to the Great American Summer Road Trip

Remember how we’d just get in our cars and drive? It didn’t even matter where to. Windows down, the summer breeze blowing through our hair. A longing that’s so familiar you can almost feel it. As the summer season begins and we safely move toward a new normal, let’s take a trip back to a time when the Great American Road Trip was very much the fabric of our lives.

In the spirit of Kia Motors America’s brand ethos, Give It Everything, inspiring what’s possible, the brand has launched a new campaign, ‘Let’s Road Trip,’ which harkens back to forgotten times as it celebrates this uniquely American tradition. Knitting together curated vintage 8mm footage from the golden age of the road trip, with present-day imagery from Kia’s award-winning model lineup, it connects the past with the present, or, more importantly, provides us with a glimpse into our future.

Created by David&Goliath, ‘Let’s Road Trip’ began broadcasting nationally Friday, June 5th. The hero spot is a 60 second that underscores our shared human need for freedom, something that’s been curtailed for so very long by global events. The film begins with a reminder of simpler times: “Remember how we’d just get in our cars and drive?” A series of retro, nostalgic shots follows, featuring, among others, a little boy ready to depart with his suitcase, a father and son on a fishing trip, and a waving rancher passing by with his herd. 

The voice-over goes on to assert a hands-down win for the car in a time when getting on a plane seems a far-off prospect: “It might be a while before we’ll see America from 35,000 feet. But the view from six feet is even better.” Then, the voice-over reminds us of some of the pleasures of stopping along the way for, among other things, boiled peanuts (a southern delicacy). Before ending with an epic aerial shot of a lone highway cutting through the Texan plains, and the call-to-action: “C’mon America, let’s pick up where we left off. Let’s Road Trip.”

Additional campaign elements include 30, 15, 06 second spots running on national broadcast. The campaign will also feature online banners, social posts, and dealership elements.