Matt Farah not too long ago claimed that VinFast, the Vietnamese automaker now promoting vehicles within the USA, provided him $10,000 on high of a free journey to Vietnam to check and speak about its merchandise. We reached out and talked to VinFast which has confirmed to Carscoops that it did certainly provide Farah money for the journey as a part of an outreach program. Evidently, a third-party firm working with VinFast recognized Farah as an influencer and not a journalist.

That firm named Blue C says that it helps clients “seize consideration, domesticate connections, and drive your small business ahead.” Utilizing influencers to promote merchandise actually appears to be the best way of the advertising world today so it’s not completely uncommon to see a automotive firm go this path to get somewhat extra consideration.

Blue C posted quite a lot of VinFast-related bits of content material by itself Instagram web page final 12 months together with one put up that demonstrates its work with the automaker. It says “When @vinfastus was set to launch a model new electrical SUV, we helped safe, handle and execute a ten individual Influencer marketing campaign on the prestigious New York Worldwide Auto Present.”

Extra: Matt Farah Claims Vinfast Provided Him $10,000 To Drive The VF8 And VF9 In Vietnam

VinFast confirmed that Blue C particularly contacted Farah as a result of they recognized him as an influencer, not a journalist. As such, they provided him money for his “time and bills… in accord with customary influencer charges.” 

Right here’s what the corporate instructed us in an e mail:

“Matt Farah was contacted in March of final 12 months by an organization known as Blue C, which was an company VinFast was working with on an influencer outreach program for the New York Worldwide Auto Present, not the Vingroup Elite Vietnam Tour. The outreach carried out by the company was particular to influencers solely and never journalists. As Mr. Farah maintains each earned and paid media platforms, he was recognized as an automotive influencer and never as a journalist. At the moment, he was requested if he can be fascinated with offering content material about VinFast on his social platform. He can be paid a commensurate fee for his time and bills in addition to for the quantity of printed content material in accord with customary influencer charges. Mr. Farah declined the invitation to attend and that particular provide.”

Frankly, kudos to them for proudly owning precisely what occurred and the way it occurred. On the identical time, it might give good reason for anybody to query content material associated to VinFast merchandise.

Once more although, a lot of manufacturers interact on this type of factor. I can let you know from private expertise that influencers are common attendees at quite a few press drive occasions. And influencers are what they’re. They usually obtain compensation to affect their followers on social media platforms. However after they obtain that compensation immediately from an automaker to point out off or speak about a model or car (let’s face it, it’s actually not an unbiased evaluation at that time) then it’s mainly simply promoting. They need to make that clear.

That highlights the massive distinction between a journalist and an influencer too. As a journalist, I do receives a commission to evaluation vehicles however by no means by the automaker. If I occur to suppose that the seats aren’t nice, or that the door playing cards kinda suck, or {that a} specific tour an automaker took me on isn’t all that good at demonstrating what it meant to, I can say that with none concern about my paycheck. It’s my job to offer you unbiased and factual protection you can then use to make up your personal thoughts about issues.

We requested VinFast quite a lot of follow-up questions concerning who determined how influencers are categorized, who was on that record, and whether or not or not these individuals have an moral obligation to reveal that they’re being paid to advertise VinFast. The automaker has but to reply however we’ll replace this put up in the event that they do.