Brand Talk–Apple World’s Most Valuable Brand; Google and Samsung Follow
In a world dominated by brands, Apple has emerged as the world’s most valuable brand. It is estimated at nearly $119 billion. The tech company, which has increased its brand value by 21% since last year, was followed by Google valued at $107.43 billion. Google has increased its brand value by 15%.
This is news even in the history of Best Global Brands, as this is the first time in its history to have not just one but two global brands exceeding the $100 billion mark according to Interbrand Best Global Brands annual report.
Not surprisingly, Facebook has seen steady growth and has been the biggest riser in the chart, and has increased its brand value by a whopping 86% to $14.3 billion. It currently holds the 29th position. Just a year before, it was worth $562 million. Facebook’s rise can be attributed to its ad business on mobile phones, which above all, has been particularly strong.
For the first time in its history, the company reported that revenue from advertising on mobile phones exceeded half of all its advertising. Facebook is constantly growing and evolving; its acquisition of messaging service WhatsApp for $19 billion and American virtual technology company Oculus VR for $ 2 billion speak volumes about its strategies.
A new entrant has made history in Best Global Brands as the first Chinese company to appear on Interbrand’s ranking. Huawei is a Chinese telecommunication and network equipment provider, and it is touted to be the first Chinese brand to enter the annals of Best Global Brands. Huawei is quickly becoming one of the largest telecommunications equipment makers in the world, thanks to its 65% of revenue coming from outside of China.
Its earnings continue to climb both domestically and across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company is also currently the third-largest smartphone manufacturer in the world, with just two brands – Samsung and Apple ahead of it. It is ranked the 94th most important brand in the world.
Interestingly, the Chinese brand is one of the five new competitors to enter the Best Global Brands ranking this year – others being DHL (81), Land Rover (91), FedEx (92), and Hugo Boss (97).
When determining the world’s top 100 most valuable brands each year, Interbrand examines three key facets that contribute to a brand’s value. First is the financial performance of the product and service, second being the role the brand plays in influencing the customer’s choice and preference, and the strength the brand has to command a premium price and secure earnings for the company.
Interbrand’s Global Chief Executive Officer, Jez Frampton in a statement said “Apple and Google’s meteoric rise to more than $100 billion is truly a testament to the power of brand building”.
In the automotive section, Audi is the top-rising brand in this year’s Best Global Brands report. It was a record-breaking year for the brand, having sold the greatest amount of cars in its history, and having achieved an operating profit of more than $6 billion. It currently holds the 44th position.
This year, the combined brand value of the automotive brands appearing on the Best Global Brands ranking has increased by 14.6%. All 14 automotive brands together make up a combined brand value of $211.9 billion.
On inspecting the rankings, the technology sector leads as the most valuable category overall. Out of this year’s top 100 brands, 13 alone come from the technology section.
