Only 21% would un-install TikTok because it is Chinese

1. 84% Don’t want Celebrities to endorse Chinese mobile brands
2. But only 32% actually know these mobile brands are Chinese!
3. Voice reservations also on Vivo as IPL sponsor and BYJU’s as India cricket team sponsor

The Indian Institute of Human Brands (IIHB) conducted a ‘gun-shot’ telephonic survey over June 17 & 18 to gauge consumer sentiment on celebrities endorsing Chinese brands, post the news of the loss of life of 20 Indian soldiers in the Galwan Valley. 408 respondents were asked some quick-fire questions.

Is TikTok a Chinese app?

56 % said Yes

32 % said Yes

12 % said Maybe

Would you un-install TikTok because it is a Chinese app?

21 % said Yes

62 % said Maybe

11 % said No

16% Did Not Answer

Respondents were also asked if they knew the country of origin of the mobile brands mentioned? How many associated a brand with a celebrity? And how many wanted the celebrity to desist from peddling the said brand because it was Chinese?

• 92% respondents knew that Apple is from the US.
• 37% respondents said Oppo is Indian. Only 42% said it was Chinese.
• 41% thought Vivo is from US/Europe, 12% said it was Indian while 40% said they knew it was Chinese.
• Samsung, 62% said was Korean; 22% from US.
• One Plus was felt to be European by 30%, US by 22%, Indian by 14%. 30% said it was Chinese.
• Only 27% knew Realme is Chinese and 26% knew Redmi’s actual origin.
• Nokia was said to be Indian by as many as 32% respondents.
• 88% said Sony is Japanese. 92% said Panasonic is Japanese.

There is low knowledge of actual country of origin of all the Chinese brands despite all the media hype.  Overall only 32% of respondents got country of origin correct in the case of China, which has two implications: 1. The Chinese brands have done a good job in masking their Sino identity, and many consumers actually believe they are local brands, perhaps because of their ubiquitous presence in media and on retail shelves. 2. Consumers actually don’t care for country of origin. All the ‘backlash’ is largely media/political hype.

Association of celebrities with brands:

• Vivo – Aamir (42%), Sara Ali Khan (6%)
• Oppo – Ranbir (22%), Katrina (11%), Badshah (7%), Deepika (3%), Sonam Kapoor (2%), Hardik Pandya (2%), Rohit Sharma (4%), Ashwin (1%)
• One Plus – Amitabh Bachchan  (14%)
• Realme – Salman (21%), Shraddha Kapoor (3%)
• iQoo – Virat Kohli (9%)

Should these celebrities continue to endorse Chinese brands?

84% of respondents said they don’t want the celebs to support or sell Chinese brands because

1.    It is unpatriotic

2.    Our soldiers are dying at the hands of the Chinese

3.    China is responsible for coronavirus

4.    We should support Indian brands

Should a Chinese brand, Vivo, be title sponsor of IPL?

72 % said No

12 % said Yes

12 % said Maybe

Rest were non-commital

Was it good that Byju’s replaced Chinese brand Oppo as sponsor of the Indian team?

85 % said Yes

14 % said Yes

1% said Maybe

Would you still say that if we told you that Byju’s too has big Chinese ownership?

76 % said No

5 % said Yes

14 % said Maybe

Rest were non-commital

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Indian Institute of Human Brands (IIHB), 1401, Lodha Supremus, Worli, Mumbai - 400018