A worker at a Kia dealership is going viral on TikTok after sharing what he says was a surprising call from the manager of a well-known Atlanta rapper asking for a pretty unusual favor. The employee, who works with Ed Voyles Kia (@edvoyleskia), recorded the conversation as the caller explained her client had his eye on the dealership’s new 2027 Telluride X-Pro in green, a model that runs around $60,000. “I know that you have one in stock currently that he would really love to use,” the supposed manager says, explaining the rapper wanted the SUV for an upcoming music video. She added that similar arrangements had worked elsewhere, saying other dealerships had provided short-term loaners in exchange for appearances that drive attention. That’s when the conversation shifted into what that kind of deal might actually look like. As of this writing, the clip has pulled in more than 16,300 views. What Happened Next With The Atlanta Rapper’s Manager? Since it wasn’t something he’d dealt with before, the Kia employee started asking questions about how the arrangement would work. “We’ve done it before with other talent where they… loan it to us for the day,” the artist’s manager explained. Tell us what you think! View Comments The dealership worker made it clear that kind of setup isn’t typical for them. He said he didn’t want to “turn away” a potential customer but noted the store doesn’t usually hand out vehicles without a formal agreement in place. Instead, he steered the conversation in a different direction, asking whether the rapper might be interested in actually buying the SUV. “We have leasing options,” he explains. “He can hang onto it for a while.” The manager said she wasn’t sure if her client wanted to purchase the vehicle, but the employee emphasized the demand for that model. He described the Telluride as a “hot car” and suggested she check back with the artist about buying it outright. “We would love to work something out with him, but I have to confirm with loaning the vehicle since the majority of the time it is not done with people,” the Kia rep explains. The manager then floated other possibilities, including offering something in return, like a meet-and-greet. “Let me ask about the loaner, and then, if he’s open to it, we’ll dive into the purchasing or leasing options,” the rep says. Can You Loan A Car From A Dealership? Deals like the one described in the video can happen, especially when the right company gets looped in, but they’re not typical at dealerships. That’s because most dealerships’ focus is on selling or leasing vehicles. Anything outside that would likely require additional approvals, insurance, and a clear agreement on liability. Perhaps that’s why the employee who was on the other end of the call hesitated. After all, handing over a $60,000 SUV, even for a day or two, comes with risk. If something happens to the car, the person borrowing it or the dealership is on the hook unless everything is spelled out in advance. According to other car sales reps on TikTok, there are cases where brands or dealerships work with artists or influencers, especially if there’s a marketing angle. But those tend to go through corporate teams or involve contracts that outline exactly what each side is getting. For most productions, there are easier options. Rental companies and services built for film and media projects are set up for this kind of thing. Of course, that doesn’t mean the manager’s request to the Kia dealership was out of left field. It just puts the dealership in a position where they have to weigh the exposure against the risk. In practice, though, it’s a long shot unless there’s a clear business case and the right protections in place. Viewers Doubt Story’s Authenticity People in the comments section weren’t entirely sold on the story, with many questioning why a well-known rapper would want a Kia in a music video at all. “Nobody want a Kia in a music video,” one person joked. “Kia and hot car in the same sentence,” another quipped. “Kia for the music video lol must be a SoundCloud rapper,” added a third person. “What rapper wants a Kia?” a fourth person questioned. Others floated alternative ways the artist could’ve gotten the shot without involving the dealership. “Just take it for a test drive… do video…and bring back…too much explanation,” one viewer said. Some viewers went further, suggesting the whole interaction wasn’t real to begin with. “So fake,” one person wrote. “Nice skit/meme,” another said. “Straight skit,” added a third. “Rappers wouldn’t care about the price of a Telluride.” And even among those who thought it could be real, there was hesitation about the ask itself. “As someone working in marketing, run,” one person wrote. “These kinds of requests never pay out on your end. Don’t even waste the time.” “Do not do this,” another echoed. “Ever.” Motor1 has reached out to Ed Voyles Kia via a direct message on TikTok. We’ll be sure to update this if we hear back from them. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team
+14 others
