Volvo | When CEO of Volvo Pulled An Insane Marketing Stunt

Volvo pulls off a high-risk, high-reward marketing stunt that instantly grabs attention. Instead of relying on traditional ads, Volvo’s CEO steps into the spotlight—literally—demonstrating the company’s unwavering commitment to safety and innovation in a way that’s impossible to ignore.

The Formula (That Works at Any Budget):

  • CEO as the Ultimate Brand Ambassador – Rather than a paid actor or spokesperson, Volvo’s actual CEO takes center stage, adding credibility and authenticity to the message.
    Lesson: Having a real decision-maker lead a campaign can make it feel more trustworthy and less like a sales pitch.

  • Stunt-Driven Suspense = Instant Engagement – The ad builds tension around the stunt, making viewers wonder: “Is this really happening?” The suspense keeps audiences hooked until the payoff.
    Lesson: Leverage suspense in storytelling—if the audience needs to see what happens next, they’ll stay engaged.

  • Tying It Back to Volvo’s Values – This isn’t just a flashy stunt; it reinforces Volvo’s core values around safety, precision, and reliability.
    Lesson: A bold stunt only works if it connects directly to your brand’s message—otherwise, it’s just a gimmick.

Humor Breakdown:

While not overtly comedic, the absurdity of the situation—seeing a CEO willingly put himself in a precarious position—adds a layer of dry, unexpected humor. The irony of a leader “risking it all” to prove a point about safety makes the ad even more engaging.

Final Verdict:

Volvo turns a simple message into an unforgettable moment. By raising the stakes, putting the CEO in the action, and reinforcing their brand promise, they create a campaign that’s bold, effective, and impossible to scroll past.

Brave-o-meter score:
B-9 | R-8 | A-9 | V-8 | E-9
BRAVE – 8.6/10

Watch the full ad & learn more:
Website: Volvo
LinkedIn: Volvo LinkedIn Page

(See what BRAVE means in our collection)

Understanding the B.R.A.V.E. Scoring System

The B.R.A.V.E. scoring system uses AI to deliver an unbiased evaluation of top-of-the-funnel B2B brand ads. It measures potential impact, memorability, and effectiveness by assessing five key components of a video ad or commercial. This system gauges an ad's capacity to drive brand recall and enhance salience, ensuring that creative work not only captures attention but also leaves a lasting impression.

What B.R.A.V.E. Stands For:

Each letter represents a key factor in determining an ad’s success:

  • BBoldness: Is the ad original, creative, or daring? Does it break away from generic B2B marketing, or is it just another forgettable corporate video?
  • RRelevance: Does it connect with a real buyer pain point? Is it addressing a specific frustration or need, or just listing product features?
  • AAttention: Does it grab and hold attention in the first few seconds? Is it visually or tonally engaging, or easy to skip?
  • VVibe: Does it create an emotional response—laughter, recognition, or surprise? Or does it feel like just another corporate info dump?
  • EEffectiveness: Will buyers remember the brand when they need a solution? Does the ad make an impact that lasts beyond the moment?

How It’s Applied to B2B Video Rating

Each video is scored 1 to 10 in all five categories, based on how well it meets the criteria. The total score (out of 50) is then divided by 5 to give a final B.R.A.V.E. score out of 10.

For example:

  • An ad scoring B-8 | R-9 | A-7 | V-6 | E-8 has a total of 38/50.
  • The final B.R.A.V.E. score is 7.6/10.

Why It Matters

B2B ads often struggle with being bland, forgettable, or ineffective. The B.R.A.V.E. system ensures they are judged by their ability to break through, connect with buyers, and drive action.

Simply put: If your ad isn’t B.R.A.V.E., it’s invisible.

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