Automobile industry sales figures will show that celebrity status is powerful. In fact, this is true for countless markets. Motor vehicle sales are driven by being associated with celebrities just as much as the sales of any other product are. That explains the obsession that marketing executives have with celebrity endorsements. Consumers probably remember some high profile car commercials with Eminem in the driver’s seat.

However, the industry has recently turned towards reporting stories about what vehicles different celebrities drive. Some people might criticize this as a gimmick. Others might suggest it is the penultimate creation of the tabloid media. Nevertheless, car companies would be pleased if such maneuvers actually produced sales. Consumers who purchase cars based on celebrity testimonies might not be the best-informed people, but they form a demographic that marketers want to reach.

In some cases, these stories are rather humorous. Some media outlets went so far as to criticize Halle Berry for driving a Honda CR-V crossover instead of her usual Lexus RX luxury SUV. People have said that Honda isn’t an exciting brand, and that celebrities need to drive vehicles that are more fitting to their status. This sort of reporting is probably a strong comment on the general public’s opinion of celebrity life. That doesn’t mean that Honda isn’t pleased with the free publicity.

Interestingly enough, some news sources have also picked up on a story regarding a Range Rover. Beyonce and Jay-Z were photographed in front of one in Paris, and that gave people an opportunity to comment on taillights in celebrity photographs. The interior of most cars in these pictures can’t be seen due to the fact that the windows are often blacked out. Therefore, consumers pay close attention to the rear of the vehicle.

Whether this sort of micromanagement on behalf of the news media is selling cars or not remains to be seen. In fact, one could argue that automakers aren’t influencing the media. Nevertheless, new stories can serve as powerful advertisements. Celebrities attract a lot of attention, and wise marketing executives might be able to capture some of that attention. That doesn’t mean that car buyers should ever find their decisions swayed by marketing tricks, however.