(January 30, 2015) IRVINE, Calif. — With the Super Bowl game just around the corner, carmakers are finding one thing tough to tackle: getting their high-priced marketing messages to resonate with viewers. According to a new survey by Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com, competing for advertising attention during the game, as well as sustaining shopper attention, is an ongoing challenge for automakers, as evidenced by viewers' limited recollection of car commercials.

The results support a continued downshift in auto advertising for this year's game, a trend that's making headlines around the nation.

"Even though several automakers including Toyota, Nissan, Kia, Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are scheduled to advertise during the 2015 Super Bowl, it's still just half the number that advertised last year," said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book. 

"This drastic drop in the number of automotive advertisers suggests that, this year at least, more automakers are finding the high cost of advertising in the Super Bowl is not justified by the results, especially when the spots don't necessarily resonate in the long run with car shoppers."

Kelley Blue Book conducted a survey the week of Jan. 5 among KBB.com visitors to determine viewer opinions when it comes to automobiles and the Super Bowl. Of those surveyed, only 24 percent remember any cars or trucks being advertised during last year's game. As for the brands that made the biggest impression among the 24 percent, Chevrolet (33 percent), Ford (27 percent) and Dodge (13 percent) scored highest among automakers that consumers remembered having a 2014 Super Bowl commercial.

"Immediate sales aren't the object of these commercials; instead, the desire is to spin the brand's story in a compelling and unique way that will get talked about," said Nerad.  "Advertising during the Big Game may fuel a carmaker's profile and generate some immediate buzz, but unless that is sustainable, the high cost may not be justifiable."

Case in point: Maserati made a big splash during the 2014 Super Bowl, according to a survey conducted by KBB.com immediately after the game last year that found Maserati to be among the most memorable advertisers. But when the topic was revisited in the most recent KBB.com survey, Maserati was among the least memorable, with only half a percent of viewers recalling that the brand even advertised at all during the game last year.

"Whether this is a trend or a blip remains to be seen," Nerad said. "It wouldn't surprise to see more auto manufacturers back on the game next year."

Of course, vehicles play a role in game day beyond advertising: Tailgating is a key part of the fun for fans, and they have preferences when it comes to which trucks they'd tailgate in, the latest Kelley Blue Book survey revealed. The Ford F-150 drove off with the prize for 31 percent of those surveyed, while 19 percent said they'd prefer to tailgate in the Chevrolet Silverado. Some 12 percent said the Toyota Tundra would be their top pick, while 11 percent would opt for a RAM truck.

This survey was served to more than 1,000 consumers on Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com from January 5 – 9, 2015.