Coronavirus Auto Industry Roundup: May 25
May 25, 2020 at 8:47 AMProduction snags, sales trends roil the auto industry
Lucid Motors Moves Forward with EV Launch Plans
May 11, 2020 at 10:01 AMValidation testing expected to resume soon
Coronavirus Auto Industry Roundup
May 08, 2020 at 6:04 PMSales perk up in China as production nosedives in Brazil, Mexico
Car Buyers Want a No-Touch Experience
May 08, 2020 at 4:38 PMOnline tools and video chats challenge the new-car showroom
Tracking the Experience of Returning to Work
May 05, 2020 at 10:30 AMHelping companies track employee concerns about returning to work
Take Home Your Dream Car (a C8 Vette) for as Little as $20
May 04, 2020 at 11:40 AMThe National Corvette Museum is raffling off three 2020 C8 Corvettes. You can’t win if you don’t play.
Coronavirus Auto Industry Roundup for May 1
May 01, 2020 at 2:46 PMFactory relaunch schedules stretch out amid uncertainties
Renault Yanks Car Brand Out of China
April 14, 2020 at 2:49 PMPivot will better align Renualt’s expertise in EVs and light commercial vehicles with transportation trends in China, driven by urbanization, inner city transportation, and electrified commercial delivery.
Coronavirus Industry Roundup: April 9
April 09, 2020 at 6:03 PMWide regional variations persist over production plans
Detroit Cancels 2020 Auto Show
March 29, 2020 at 2:54 PMThe NAIAS venue will become a temporary hospital for Michigan’s rising number of coronavirus victims.
Hyundai Offers New Buyers Credit Relief
March 16, 2020 at 11:26 AMWill 90-day payment deferral and 6-month job loss assurance coverage alleviate concerns?
Cadillac Delays EV Debut, Citing Virus Outbreak
March 09, 2020 at 6:05 PMCadillac Lyriq crossover awaits its closeup
Millennials Ask, Where’s the Future Tech?
March 09, 2020 at 3:13 PMMillennials are optimistic about cars but disappointed about the pace of tech adoption
Buyers in China Protest Tesla Chip Switch
March 06, 2020 at 8:44 AMVirus-related parts shortage riles early Model 3 buyers
Ford, Nationwide Partner on Sharing Driver Data
March 04, 2020 at 8:51 AMService simplifies monitoring of driver behavior
Munich Picked to Succeed Frankfurt Auto Show
March 03, 2020 at 5:37 PMCan the new location bring back exhibitors and jumpstart attendance?
Coronavirus Pushes New Marketing Channels
March 02, 2020 at 1:11 PMOptions take on new importance as crisis disrupts dealerships, car shows
Geneva Cancels Auto Show
February 28, 2020 at 10:56 AMDetroit show, due in June, is monitoring developments
Bill Murray’s Super Gladiator—Groundhog Not Included
February 24, 2020 at 2:59 PMThe viral commercial has paid off well for Jeep. Now’s your chance to own the sporty 4x4.
Porsche Jumps to Top of CR Best-Car Ratings
February 21, 2020 at 12:34 PMAnother year of surprising ups and downs
Ford Bronco is Due Next Month—Here’s What We (Think We) Know So Far
February 17, 2020 at 7:43 AMVehicle could be Ford’s most important upcoming launch
EDAG's Schulte on Model Proliferation
February 17, 2020 at 2:56 AMPowertrains, “regional” vehicles to drive diversification
China Calls the Shots on Car Sales
February 13, 2020 at 4:55 PMChina continues to magnify the ups and downs of global sales totals.
Cars Keep Getting More Reliable
February 12, 2020 at 2:43 PMThe J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study proves cars are more dependable than ever, even though they also keep getting more complicated.
Nikola Reveals Electric Pickup Plans
February 10, 2020 at 6:18 PMNikola jumps into a crowded electric pickup truck market
World’s Top Auto Brands Defend Their Rankings
February 10, 2020 at 10:25 AMBrands are forever jockeying for superiority over their rivals.
The Other Super Sunday Sporting Spectacle: Cars on Ice
February 04, 2020 at 1:23 PMRacing, “skijoring” and lots of slick rides at the 2020 GP Ice Race in Zell am See, Austria
Scoring the 2020 Super Bowl Car Ads
February 03, 2020 at 6:25 AMJeep, Hyundai, Audi and Porsche hit the mark; Hummer EV fizzles
Bye-Bye Frankfurt Auto Show
January 30, 2020 at 3:31 PMGerman show leaves town after a 51-year run as attendance plunges.
Five Automotive Predictions for the New Decade
January 28, 2020 at 12:39 PMWhat worked in the past is going to be challenged in the future—if not outright eliminated by technological changes
Lambo and LEGO Enter into Partnership
January 28, 2020 at 9:15 AMWhile this might not be the most earth-shattering auto news, it surely is more pleasant than a story about the coronavirus and its unfortunate impacts on people in auto
LMC Auto’s Jeff Schuster on the Industry
January 27, 2020 at 7:00 AMWhen it comes to how the automotive market is doing—and how it is likely to do—you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who knows more than Jeff Schuster
SEAT Goes for Colorful Camo
January 24, 2020 at 9:03 AMRather than the standard black-and-white used to camouflage vehicles under development, SEAT celebrates its Catalan roots
A New Term to Get Used to: “Disownership”
January 22, 2020 at 9:40 AMThe way people are going to get transportation is changing the world over. Get ready for it.
China Likely to Extend EV Subsidies
January 20, 2020 at 4:51 PMChina is having second thoughts about phasing out discounts on electric cars after EV sales dropped 4% last year.
Hummer Goes Green
January 13, 2020 at 8:49 AMGeneral Motors plans to revive its gas-hog Hummer brand, this time to adorn an array of environmentally correct, all-electric SUVs and pickup trucks.
Tesla Begins Sales of China-Built EVs
December 30, 2019 at 2:07 AMTesla pulled a largely symbolic marketing stunt in China today by delivering 15 locally made Model 3 electric sedans to its own employees.
Hopes Fizzle for Expanded EV Credits in U.S.
December 24, 2019 at 2:05 AMCongress has balked at expanding a long-running tax credit for buyers of electric cars in the U.S. It's bad news for Tesla and General Motors.
Will Minivans Be the Next Victim of SUV Mania?
December 23, 2019 at 3:38 AMSales of traditional cars have taken a beating as consumers opt for SUV/crossover vehicles instead. Will minivans be the next casualty?
Renault’s Marketing Chief Replaced
December 02, 2019 at 1:51 PMFrancois Renard, who joined Renault SA in November 2018 as global marketing director, has been succeeded by Xavier Martinet.
JLR Names New Sales Chief for China
December 02, 2019 at 12:04 AMRichard Shore will take over as president of Jaguar Land Rover Ltd.’s sales and marketing arm in China on Jan. 1.
Former Hyundai Marketing Chief Joins Cars.com
November 06, 2019 at 8:47 AMDean Evans, who quit as marketing chief for Hyundai Motor Co.’s U.S. unit last month, has been appointed executive vice president of digital retailer Cars.com.
Zipcar’s ex-CEO Joins Ford Autonomy Unit
November 06, 2019 at 12:35 AMScott Griffith, who led car-sharing startup Zipcar between 2003 and 2013, has joined Ford Motor Co.’s Autonomous Vehicles LLC as head of product, marketing and operations.
How To Thrive in the Automotive Downturn
November 05, 2019 at 11:12 AMAs global markets start to slow, automotive companies must realize that technology disruption makes this downturn fundamentally different – and thriving requires a new approach.
Vietnam May Fine VW Over Map App Dispute
November 05, 2019 at 3:07 AMVietnam is threatening to fine a Volkswagen importer and a distributor for promoting an SUV whose navigation system displays a disputed territorial claim with China.
FCA Poised to Quit Europe’s Minicar Market
November 04, 2019 at 11:48 AMFiat Chrysler Automobiles NV plans to exit Europe's A-segment minicar market and bolster its offerings in the higher volume and more profitable B-segment.
Ford’s Quarterly Net Earnings Drop 57%
October 23, 2019 at 6:11 PMFord Motor Co. reports that marketing and restructuring costs slashed its third-quarter net profit 57% as unit sales and revenue fell.
Hyundai Names New U.S. Marketing Chief
October 21, 2019 at 3:26 PMHyundai Motor America has appointed Angela Zepeda, who had been a managing partner for the carmaker’s advertising agency, chief marketing officer for its U.S. operations.
Hyundai U.S. Marketing Boss Departs
October 18, 2019 at 3:54 PMDean Evans, who joined Hyundai Motor Co. four years ago to head the carmaker’s U.S. marketing operations, has left the company to pursue other opportunities.
Peugeot Names N. American Marketing Chief
October 17, 2019 at 3:48 PMPSA Group’s Peugeot unit has appointed Lisa Mark chief marketing officer and vice president for its fledgling North American operations.
GM Names Global Chief Marketing Officer
September 05, 2019 at 3:04 PMGeneral Motors Co. has promoted Deborah Wahl, previously head of marketing for the Cadillac brand, to be GM’s first global chief marketing officer since 2012.
Former Google Marketing Exec Joins Uber
August 15, 2019 at 4:12 PMUber Technologies Inc., which cut its marketing staff by one-third last month, has hired Thomas Ranese to head the ride-hailing company's downsized market and branding team.
VW Hires Chehab as U.S. Marketing Chief
August 14, 2019 at 4:17 PMVolkswagen AG’s namesake brand has chosen industry veteran Saad Chehab to become the company’s chief marketing officer in the U.S., effective Aug. 19.
Uber Sheds One-Third of Its Marketing Team
July 30, 2019 at 1:18 AMUber Technologies Inc. says it laid off off 400 of its 1,200 global marketing staff yesterday to cut costs and simplify operations.
Ford Scrambles to Revive Sales in China
July 22, 2019 at 2:12 PMFord Motor Co. is rushing to reverse marketing miscues and aging products in China to reverse an alarming sales slump, says The Wall Street Journal.
Kia Hires Former Mazda Marketing Exec
July 18, 2019 at 11:09 AMKia Motors Corp. has hired Russel Wager to head the company’s marketing efforts in the U.S., Marketing Daily reports.
Kia’s U.S. Marketing Chief Resigns
June 26, 2019 at 4:06 PMSaad Chehab, who has been vice president of marketing communications for Kia Motors Corp.’s U.S. operations for two years, has left the company.
Report: Tesla Refocuses Asian Operations on China Region
June 18, 2019 at 8:00 AMTesla Inc. is replacing its Asia Pacific marketing arm with a new division that will focus on China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau, sources tell Bloomberg News.
Uber’s COO, Marketing Chief Leave in Management Shakeup
June 07, 2019 at 5:49 PMUber Technologies Inc. is replacing its chief operating and chief marketing officers as part of a major management overhaul.
BMW Names New N. America Marketing Chief
May 29, 2019 at 12:43 PMBMW AG has appointed Uwe Dreher to head the company’s marketing operations in North America.
Ford Swaps Out Expatriate Execs in China
May 06, 2019 at 2:13 AMFord Motor Co. is replacing dozens of Western executives in China with local marketing experts in a bid to cut costs and gain more local marketing knowledge.
Nissan Names New U.S. Sales Chief
April 24, 2019 at 5:11 PMNissan Motor Co. has chosen Airton Cousseau, managing director of its China venture with Dongfeng Motor Co., to take over U.S. sales and marketing on June 1.
Report: Nissan’s Sales Chief to Quit
April 16, 2019 at 11:31 AMDaniele Schillaci, Nissan Motor Co.’s head of sales and marketing, and electric vehicle programs, plans to resign within two months, a source tells Kyodo News.
PSA Hires Ex-Renault Chief to Head Sales, Marketing
March 18, 2019 at 3:09 PMPSA Group has appointed Thierry Koskas to take over as senior vice president of sales and marketing for the group’s five brands—Citroen, DS, Opel, Peugeot and Vauxhall—on March 26.
Volvo Shrinks Executive Board
March 15, 2019 at 2:33 AMVolvo Car Corp. is reducing membership in its management board to 13 from 15 and expanding the assignments of two senior tech and marketing executives, effective April 1.
Adient Dismisses Two Senior Executives
March 05, 2019 at 11:14 AMAdient plc, formerly the automotive seating and interiors business of Johnson Controls Inc., has removed two top executives who headed its engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, innovation and marketing operations.
Former Volvo Exec to Head Karma’s Sales and Marketing
February 20, 2019 at 8:43 AMKarma Automotive LLC has hired John Maloney as chief revenue officer in charge of sales and marketing, customer experience and public relations.
Zotye Adds U.S. Marketing Execs
February 19, 2019 at 2:03 PMChinese carmaker Zotye Automobile International Co. has hired industry veterans Jan Thompson and Susan Bland Norton to lead the company’s marketing efforts in the U.S., where it aims to launch sales next year.
Ford and Yakima: What This Means
February 07, 2019 at 10:47 AMUntil model year 2010 Ford offered the Bronco, Explorer, Expedition, and Excursion vehicles with an Eddie Bauer trim package. But that’s so early 21st century.*
Nissan Helping National Parks: Trucks Like Trees
February 01, 2019 at 3:03 PM“Calling All TITANS” is a marketing initiative that Nissan created last fall to organize an affinity group among owners of the Titan pickup.
Audi Confirms Wortmann Will Head Sales and Marketing
January 08, 2019 at 2:18 PMAudi AG confirms a report last week that Hildegard Wortmann, a former BMW brand manager, will take over as its head of sales and marketing on July 1.
Chevrolet, Toyota Exec Jim Perkins Dies at 83
December 31, 2018 at 12:00 AMJim Perkins, a sales and marketing titan for the Buick, Chevrolet, Lexus and Toyota brands, died Friday at age 83.
Tesla Sales Exec Quits to Join Airbnb
December 19, 2018 at 8:42 AMDan Kim, who had been Tesla Inc.’s senior director of global sales and marketing, has left the carmaker to become a director for home-sharing startup Airbnb Inc.
Chevy Marketing Chief to Retire
December 14, 2018 at 6:51 AMTim Mahoney, who has served as the global chief marketing officer for General Motors Co. and its Chevrolet brand for nearly six years, plans to retire on March 1.
NACTOY Finalists Announced
November 28, 2018 at 11:21 PMThe finalists for the North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) awards were announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show today, and because the choices are essentially based on choices predicated on design and engineering (after all, as the jurors drive the vehicles, it isn’t an issue of sales or marketing), the selections of the three finalists in each category can be considered among the best in class when it comes to those two functions.
Freudenberg Takes on Electrification
September 24, 2018 at 2:58 AMFreudenberg Group is adjusting its automotive operations as carmakers turn to electrification, notes Matthew Chapman, vice president of sales and marketing for the company’s e-Mobility business.
Nielsen, J.D. Power Launch “Auto Cloud” Marketing Tool
August 14, 2018 at 6:40 AMConsumer data analytics giant Nielsen Holdings plc and J.D. Power are partnering on a new marketing platform to help automotive advertisers identify and target potential customers.
BYD Hit by Fraudulent Market Sponsorship Deals
July 16, 2018 at 12:38 PMBYD Co. has asked Chinese authorities to investigate a non-employee who allegedly signed big marketing contracts on behalf of the company.
Ford, Baidu Partner on Connectivity, AI Projects in China
June 27, 2018 at 2:31 AMFord Motor Co. and Chinese internet services provider Baidu Inc. have agreed to collaborate on in-car digital services, artificial intelligence and digital marketing projects for the Chinese market.
Toyota Cuts Sales Budgets, Hikes Spending on Tech
June 21, 2018 at 2:00 AMToyota Motor Corp. is trimming spending on sales and marketing so it can invest more heavily in tech research, sources tell Reuters.
NHTSA Bans Device that Disables Tesla Autopilot Safety Feature
June 19, 2018 at 5:26 PMFederal authorities have ordered a California company to stop marketing a device that interferes with the automatic warnings issued by Tesla Inc.’s Autopilot semi-autonomous driving system.
Audi Suspends Stadler, Names Schot as Interim CEO
June 19, 2018 at 1:53 PMVolkswagen AG’s Audi unit has suspended CEO Rupert Stadler and installed Abraham Schot, formerly the company’s sales and marketing chief, as interim CEO.
Frick to Head Ford Sales in U.S.
May 02, 2018 at 12:11 AMFord Motor Co. has named Andrew Frick, its U.S. marketing director for the past year, to be its U.S. sales director.
Ford Puts Most of Its Global Ad Account Up for Review
April 23, 2018 at 1:30 AMFord Motor Co. says it is putting most of its worldwide creative advertising account up for review in an effort to cut costs and improve marketing efficiency.
Recall Snag Halts Honda SUV Sales in China
April 18, 2018 at 1:43 AMHonda Motor Co. has been blocked from marketing its top-selling CR-V crossover vehicle in China because officials have rejected the company’s plan to recall the model.
Chevy Tahoe Back in Black
April 03, 2018 at 7:32 AMLast August, Sandor Piszar, Chevrolet Trucks marketing director, noted of the full-size SUV segment, “In the past five years, the average transaction price for the segment has climbed fueled by customer appetite for features like heated and cooled seats, adaptive cruise control and a head-up display.
Braeuetigam to Lead JLR Sales and Marketing
March 08, 2018 at 8:49 AMJaguar Land Rover Ltd. has promoted marketing chief Felix Braeuetigam to the new position of chief commercial officer, adding the duties of departing sales operations director Andy Goss.
Cadillac Names Wahl as Global Marketing Chief
March 07, 2018 at 3:21 AMGeneral Motors Co.’s Cadillac unit has chosen Deborah Wahl to take over as its new chief marketing officer on March 26.
Mercedes Taps Publicis Groupe as Global Ad Agency
February 13, 2018 at 2:53 PMDaimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz Cars unit has hired Paris-Publicis Groupe to handle its marketing in 40 markets outside Germany, China and the U.S.
Nissan’s Quarterly Operating Profit Plunges 50%
February 08, 2018 at 10:48 AMNissan Motor Co. saw its operating profit in October-December plummet 50% to 82.4 billion yen ($753 million) because of higher marketing and recall costs.
VW Amarok and Serious Sport
February 02, 2018 at 6:31 AMAs Sunday will be the Super Bowl, there will undoubtedly be plenty of automotive commercials before, during and after the game, many of which focus on pickup trucks, because the ad agencies who work for the various OEMs have done deep demographic research that indicates that people who like football like trucks and vice versa. (We’ve always been a fan of the 1998 Nissan Frontier commercial that told us “Dogs like trucks.”) Anyway. . .there is one tough pickup truck that won’t be part of the festival of ads on Sunday because it is for a product that isn’t available in the U.S., the Volkswagen Amarok.
Ford May Help Market Deutsche Post’s Electric Delivery Vans
January 17, 2018 at 7:32 PMDeutsche Post DHL Group’s electric van, which rides on a Ford Transit van platform, could get a marketing boost from Ford Motor Co., says Automotive News Europe.
PSA Appoints Its Sales Chief to Revive Vauxhall Unit
January 12, 2018 at 12:12 AMPSA Group says its chief sales and marketing officer will to take over as head of the company’s struggling Vauxhall unit, effective Feb. 1.
Cadillac’s Global Marketing Chief Quits
December 04, 2017 at 12:30 AMUwe Ellinghaus, who took over as the head of global marketing for General Motors Co.’s Cadillac brand in 2014, has resigned, effective Jan. 31.
VW Names New Chief for U.S. Marketing
November 08, 2017 at 5:08 PMVolkswagen AG has named Jim Zabel, managing director of Omni Advertising in Los Angeles, to take over as senior vice president of marketing for VW of America.
Ford Shuffles Senior Management Team
October 24, 2017 at 12:40 PMFord Motor Co.’s heads of global marketing, human resources, quality and global strategy are leaving the company as it redefines its role from carmaker to mobility provider.
Meunier to Head Infiniti Global Sales/Marketing
October 17, 2017 at 4:51 PMNissan Motor Co.’s Infiniti luxury car arm has appointed Christian Meunier to the new position of vice president of global marketing and sales operations.
Autobytel Changes Name to AutoWeb
October 02, 2017 at 1:10 PMIrvine, Calif.-based Autobytel Inc. is changing its name to AutoWeb, a brand acquired by the automotive marketing services company two years ago.
IHS Markit Buys Dealer Analytics Firm
September 27, 2017 at 6:20 AMForecasting giant IHS Markit has acquired automotiveMastermind Inc., which provides consumer behavior analytics and marketing automation software to U.S. car dealerships.
Korea Fines Mercedes-Benz Unit for Rigging Labor Repair Rates
September 26, 2017 at 2:13 AMDaimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz marketing arm and eight dealers in South Korea has been fined a combined 1.8 billion won ($1.6 million) for conspiring to manipulate the labor costs to repair its cars.
Opel’s Marketing Chief Quits to Lead German Cosmetics Retailer
September 25, 2017 at 5:00 PMTina Mueller, who has been head of marketing at Adam Opel AG for four years, will take over as CEO of European beauty care retailer Douglas GmbH.
Sproule Named Aston Martin’s Chief for Americas
August 31, 2017 at 3:27 PMAston Martin Lagonda Ltd. has named Simon Sproule, the company’s global chief marketing officer, to the additional position of head of the Americas.
VW Names New Sales Chief for N. America
July 06, 2017 at 12:27 AMVolkswagen AG has appointed Werner Eichhorn to take over as its top sales and marketing officer in North America, effective Sept. 1. He will report to Hinrich Woebcken, CEO of the North American region.
VW Hires Ex-Hyundai N. America Sales Chief
June 08, 2017 at 4:12 PMVolkswagen AG has hired Derrick Hatami to be its executive vice president of sales and marketing in North America.
Chinese Carmakers Take Aim at South Korean Market
June 01, 2017 at 1:02 AMChinese carmakers are pushing into the South Korean market with low prices and eye-catching marketing campaigns for their domestic brands.
Toyota Hires VW’s Marketing Chief in N. America
May 24, 2017 at 5:41 PMToyota Motor Corp. has hired Vinay Shahani to head its integrated marketing effort in North America, effective June 5.
Ford’s U.S. Marketing Director Quits
May 11, 2017 at 12:10 AMChantel Lenard, executive director of U.S. marketing at Ford Motor Co., has quit after 25 years with the carmaker.
Kia's U.S. Unit Hires Ex-Chrysler Ad Exec Chehab
April 27, 2017 at 3:20 PMKia Motors Corp. has named Saad Chehab to take over as its U.S. marketing communications chief on May 8.
Brook to Head Marketing for Buick, GMC
April 04, 2017 at 12:30 AMGeneral Motors Co. has named Phil Brook as vice president of marketing for its Buick car and GMC truck brands in the U.S.
VW to Shed 275 Retail Outlets in Europe
March 24, 2017 at 12:00 AMVolkswagen AG’s European retail affiliate, Porsche Holding Salzburg, is selling 275 of its sales outlets so it can focus on marketing the VW Group’s own brands.
Buying a Car from a Vending Machine
March 21, 2017 at 6:31 AMAlthough used-car shopping is something that we don’t ordinarily cover, this is a bit too, well, bizarre to overlook: The Carvana Car Vending Machine.
Toyota Catching Air
March 08, 2017 at 6:22 AMThere is a growing concern among automakers that young people just aren’t as keen on driving as those automakers—as in people who are generally north of 45—find that even their own children, kids who have grown up with a highly satisfactory lifestyle thanks to the existence of cars and trucks, are largely indifferent to driving or, in some cases, even getting a license.
PSA Could Begin Selling Opel Models Outside Europe in 2018
March 08, 2017 at 3:26 AMPSA Group says it could begin marketing certain Opel-brand cars outside Europe as soon as next year under terms of its acquisition of the company from General Motors Co.
Report: GM Wants Limit on Where PSA Could Sell Current Opel Models
February 24, 2017 at 10:35 AMGeneral Motors Co. has set as a term of the impending sale of its Opel unit to PSA Group a ban on marketing Opel’s current models in China, North America or Russia, according to Der Spiegel, which cites no sources.
BMW Diversifies U.S. Ad Spend
December 20, 2016 at 1:45 AMBMW AG continues to reassign pieces of its North American marketing plan, although New York City-based KBS remains its creative agency of record in the region.
Germany Orders Tesla to Drop “Autopilot” Marketing Term
October 17, 2016 at 12:17 AMGermany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) has demanded that Tesla Motors Inc. stop using the term “Autopilot” in its advertising to describe the semi-autonomous driving feature in its electric cars, Bild am Sonntag reports.
Navigation Comes to Pocket Bikes
September 08, 2016 at 5:53 AMAccording to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “NHTSA does not define the terms ‘motor scooter,’ ‘moped,’ ‘pocket bike,’ ‘mini-chopper,’ ‘mini-ninja,’ or any other terms of this nature that may be used for the purpose of marketing motorcycles and motor driven cycles.
Renault May Launch Twizy EV in S. Korea in October
August 15, 2016 at 5:31 PMRenault SA’s Renault Samsung unit intends to begin marketing its Twizy two-seat electric city car in South Korea as soon as October, according to The Korea Herald.
VW Names New U.S. Product Marketing and Strategy Chief
August 03, 2016 at 12:35 PMVolkswagen AG has appointed Hendrik Muth as vice president of product marketing and strategy in the American market.
Daimler Names New Mercedes-Benz Sales Chief
July 22, 2016 at 10:45 AMBritta Seeger has been named head of global sales and marketing for Mercedes-Benz Cars, effective Jan. 1.
Michigan’s Planet M: Where Big Ideas in Mobility Are Born
July 11, 2016 at 2:02 AMA campaign launched in 2016 called Planet M is coordinating the state of Michigan's prowess in personal mobility, and marketing those capabilities through a single initiative.
Faraday Future Hires Former Ferrari Exec to Head Marketing
June 13, 2016 at 12:30 AMFaraday Future Inc., the secretive Gardena, Calif.-based electric-car startup, has hired Marco Mattiacci as its global chief brand and commercial officer, effective immediately.
Truck vs. Truck; Steel vs. Aluminum
June 09, 2016 at 2:30 PMAccording to Sandor Piszar, Chevrolet truck marketing director, “We engineer and build our trucks with customers’ expectations in mind.”
Bosch Has a Different Road to Autonomy
June 07, 2016 at 5:34 AMFrank Sgambati, director of marketing and product innovation for Chassis Systems Control in North America, Robert Bosch LLC, and his colleagues are confident that the technology that will provide the means to achieve automated driving is coming fast, with significant on-road capabilities by 2020.
Ford Names New Marketing Chief for Europe
June 07, 2016 at 12:05 AMFord Motor Co. has appointed Matt VanDyke as vice president of marketing in Europe, effective July 1.
Nissan’s Mexico Sales Chief to Head Unit
May 17, 2016 at 1:11 PMNissan Motor Co. has named Mayra Gonzalez, currently its regional vice president of sales and marketing in Mexico, to take over as president of Nissan Mexicana on July 1.
Pacifica: The Minivan That Matters
April 04, 2016 at 5:25 AMWhile the whole notion of minivans might provoke an involuntary eye roll among some people, here’s an interesting fact: so far this year, through the end of March, Chrysler delivered 31,616 Town & Country minivans, which makes it, by far, the biggest selling vehicle in the brand’s showroom.
Daimler to Name New R&D Chief?
February 11, 2016 at 3:29 PMDaimler AG will announce on Tuesday that Ola Kaellenius, currently in charge of marketing and sales for Mercedes-Benz Cars, will take over as head of the unit’s research and development activities, sources tell Handelsblatt.
GM to Import Chinese-Made Cadillac Plug-in Hybrids
January 12, 2016 at 1:16 AMGeneral Motors Co. plans later this year to ship plug-in hybrid versions of its just-introduced Cadillac CT6 sedan from China to the U.S., says Uwe Ellinghaus, the brand’s marketing chief.
Mercedes Sales Chief in Line to Become Daimler CEO?
December 17, 2015 at 7:30 PMOla Kaellenius, who has headed sales and marketing for Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz Cars unit since 2013, is a favored candidate to succeed Dieter Zetsche as Daimler CEO four years from now, sources tell Manager Magazin.
Nissan Shuffles Senior U.S. Sales Execs
December 09, 2015 at 12:27 AMNissan Motor Co. has reassigned Fred Diaz, its senior sales and marketing chief in the U.S. and Canada, to a new position overseeing truck sales across those two countries and Mexico, effective Jan. 1.
Ford Shuffles Manufacturing, Legal, Marketing Leadership
October 20, 2015 at 12:36 PMFord Motor Co. is making several leadership changes in its legal, manufacturing and marketing teams.
Maserati’s Marketing Chief Quits
October 05, 2015 at 12:12 AMSaad Chehab, who has headed global marketing for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' Maserati unit for nearly two years, resigned his post on Sunday Automotive News reports.
Roechling Names New Marketing Chief for North America
October 02, 2015 at 12:12 AMEngineered plastic products supplier Roechling Automotive has named Juergen Peters to head sales, marketing and engineering for its Roechling Automotive USA.
300th Show & a ’05 Ford GT
August 31, 2015 at 5:09 AMWhile there is great anticipation for the forthcoming Ford GT, the previous generation car, which was produced in model years 2005 and 2006, is still among the best designed vehicles ever. [Not Karl’s car.] On “Autoline After Hours” we’ve interviewed Camilo Pardo, who is credited with that car’s design. (We also interviewed Craig Metros, who worked on the next-gen GT.) The new Ford GT setup for racing On this edition of “After Hours” we have a 2005 Ford GT in the studio along with its one-and-only owner, Karl Brauer, who picked up his car in Santa Monica on August 23, 2005, with seven miles clocked on the odometer.
Ford Hires GM Exec to Head Marketing in China
August 11, 2015 at 4:22 PMFord Motor Co. has hired Joseph Liu, who retired last year as executive vice president at Shanghai GM, as head of marketing and sales in China.
Hyundai Finally Fills U.S. Marketing Position
August 10, 2015 at 12:31 PMHyundai Motor Co. has hired Dean Evans, former marketing chief at Subaru of American Inc., to be its head of marketing in the U.S.
Built in Detroit
August 04, 2015 at 5:17 AMOn a recent trip to Los Angeles, while flipping through the Times, I had one of those “damn, I can’t believe I’m seeing this” moments.
Tesla Hires Marketing Exec from Burberry
July 13, 2015 at 12:07 AMTesla Motors Inc. has hired Ganesh Srivats, a former strategic planning and retailing executive with British fashion house Burberry plc as its new vice president of North American sales.
The Dodge Brothers
June 16, 2015 at 5:00 AMDespite the remarkable exterior designs, interior innovations and potent powertrains, Dodge sales are not doing particularly well.
VW Restructuring May Eliminate Board Sales Chief
June 11, 2015 at 12:46 PMVolkswagen Group's sweeping reorganization plan may leave Christian Klingler, its top marketing executive, without a job, sources tell Reuters.
Nissan Picks Toyota’s European Sales Chief to Head Global Sales
June 03, 2015 at 10:32 AMNissan Motor Co. has hired Daniele Schillaci, formerly head of European sales and marketing operations for Toyota Motor Corp., to be its executive vice president in charge of global head of sales and marketing.
Daimler to Market Lithium-ion Batteries for New Uses
May 29, 2015 at 2:23 PMIn June, Daimler AG will begin marketing Mercedes-Benz-branded lithium-ion batteries for stationary energy storage.
BMW Launches Online EV Sales in Japan
April 01, 2015 at 9:56 AMBMW AG has begun marketing its i3 all-electric sedan in Japan through Amazon's online marketplace there, The Nikkei reports.
Tesla Scrambles to Fix Marketing Miscues in China
March 30, 2015 at 12:19 AMTesla Motors Inc. is adjusting the marketing of its Model S electric sedans in China after several missteps.
Nissan Sales Chief in India Quits
March 19, 2015 at 1:43 AMNissan Motor Co.'s vice president of sales and marketing in India has quit to "pursue other options," The Economic Times reports.
FCA to Drop Chrysler Brand in U.K.
March 18, 2015 at 12:24 AMFiat Chrysler Automobiles NV tells Auto Express it will stop marketing Chrysler-brand vehicles in the U.K. by 2017.
Daring Greatly?
February 27, 2015 at 5:12 AMBy now you have probably read or viewed on a screen the Cadillac “Dare Greatly” ad.
Apple Advised Against Becoming a Carmaker
February 18, 2015 at 4:22 PMApple Inc. has received plenty of unsolicited advice to rethink its apparent interest in marketing its own electric car.
January Sales Fall for Volkswagen Brand
February 13, 2015 at 12:29 AMVolkswagen Group reports that worldwide deliveries for its namesake brand dropped 3% to 507,100 units in January in what sales and marketing chief Christian Klingler describes as an uncertain and "challenging" year.
Developing the Cadillac ATS-V
February 09, 2015 at 5:35 AMThis is the 2016 Cadillac ATS-V sedan: The model, not yet on the streets yet (it is coming a bit later this year), also comes as a coupe: The ATS-V, explains Tony Roma, chief engineer of the vehicle (as well as for the CTS-V, the bigger brethren of the ATS-V), is a luxury sedan that can be driven on a daily basis in a comfortable manner. . .or it can go like a bat out of you-know-where on a track, as it offers a 0 to 60 mph time of 3.9 seconds, and it can hit 200 mph.
BMW Expects Short-Term Dip in EV Demand
January 20, 2015 at 12:06 AMCheap fuel will hurt demand for electric vehicles in at least some countries over the short term, Ian Robertson, head of sales and marketing for BMW AG, tells Bloomberg News.
Corvette Z06 & Ultimate DIY
January 13, 2015 at 7:05 AM“Very few cars in the world deliver 650 horsepower, true aerodynamic downforce, carbon fiber and performance technologies such as Magnetic Ride Control, Performance Traction Management and an electronic limited slip differential – and none gives the driver a transmission choice or the choice of a coupe with a removable roof panel or a full-power-top convertible.” That’s Harlan Charles, Corvette product and marketing manager talking about the 2015 Corvette Z06.
Ford & Disney
January 05, 2015 at 5:05 AMBack in 1999, General Motors and Warner Brothers announced a joint-marketing venture valued at around $30-million that not only generated ads that had cartoon characters from the venerable studio pitching cars, but even a Warner Bros. “WB” logo, with Bugs Bunny leaning against it, affixed to the back of the Chevy Venture minivan.
VW Taps Robbie Williams for. . . Marketing
December 31, 2014 at 5:09 AMLast week in Germany, Volkswagen announced that British pop star Robbie Williams is its marketing manager.
Mercedes Sales Chief Joins Daimler Board
December 12, 2014 at 6:44 AMOla Kaellenius Daimler AG says Ola Kaellenius, who heads sales and marketing for the company's Mercedes-Benz unit, will join the management board in January.
Mercedes Sales Chief Joins Daimler Board
December 11, 2014 at 6:37 PMDaimler AG says Ola Kaellenius, who heads sales and marketing for the company's Mercedes-Benz unit, will join the management board in January.
Luxury/Cars/Cars/Luxury
December 09, 2014 at 5:20 AMIn a recent interview with Automotive News, Ewe Ellinghaus, chief marketing officer at Cadillac, said, “Johan de Nysschen, my boss, and I always say we want to build the first luxury brand that just happens to make cars.” Seems like he may have missed the chance on that one.
Chevrolet Hires Ford’s Former Social Media Guru
December 03, 2014 at 7:33 AMCraig Daitch General Motors Co.'s Chevrolet brand has hired Craig Daitch to become its senior manager of digital marketing strategy, Automotive News reports.
Cadillac’s Marketing Plan: Push Luxury, Not Cars
December 02, 2014 at 8:05 AMThe man in charge of steering the Cadillac brand's image realignment says the effort will focus on equating the nameplate with "luxury" in general.
FCA, Guangzhou Setting Up New Marketing Unit in China
December 02, 2014 at 7:22 AMFiat Chrysler Automobiles NV and partner Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. are launching a new joint venture to integrate sales and marketing for FCA's Chrysler, Fiat and Jeep brands in China.
Ford Marketeer Bob Rewey Dies
December 01, 2014 at 5:41 PMFormer Ford Motor Co. marketing whiz Bob Rewey died in Florida last weekend at age 76 after a short illness.
Hyundai’s U.S. Sales Chief Quits
November 17, 2014 at 7:19 AMSteve Shannon has quit as vice president of marketing for Hyundai Motor Co.'s American operations.
Hyundai’s U.S. Sales Chief Quits
November 14, 2014 at 2:08 PMSteve Shannon has quit as vice president of marketing for Hyundai Motor Co.'s American operations.
UPDATE: Ford Replaces Odell as Head of European Unit
November 10, 2014 at 7:01 AMFord Motor Co. has named Jim Farley, formerly executive vice president of global marketing, sales and service, as the new president of the company's operations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Mercedes AMG to Buy 25% of Motorcycle Maker MV Agusta
November 03, 2014 at 8:33 AMDaimler AG's Mercedes-AMG performance unit is acquiring a 25% stake in Italian high-performance motorcycle manufacturer MV Agusta SpA that includes collaboration on sales and marketing.
Mercedes AMG to Buy 25% of Motorcycle Make MV Agusta
October 31, 2014 at 2:18 PMDaimler AG's Mercedes-AMG performance unit is acquiring a 25% stake in Italian high-performance motorcycle manufacturer MV Agusta SpA that includes collaboration on sales and marketing.
Federal-Mogul Hires Former Fiat Brand Chief Soave
October 17, 2014 at 12:22 AMFederal-Mogul Motorparts has hired Laura Soave to be its top marketing and communications officer, effective immediately.
Hitachi Rolls Out a Suite of Self-Driving Technologies
October 15, 2014 at 8:45 PMHitachi Automotive Systems Ltd. is touting a collection of automatic driving features it intends to begin marketing to carmakers in 2016, Automotive News reports.
Big Brands Around the Planet
October 14, 2014 at 5:35 AMLast week, Interbrand released its 2014 Best Global Brands ranking.
Tesla PR Chief Moves to Aston Martin
October 08, 2014 at 12:03 AMSimon Sproule, who took over as communications chief at American electric car maker Tesla Motors Inc. in April, has been hired as global marketing and communications head at Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd.
Happy 25th Birthday, Lexus and Infiniti
September 29, 2014 at 8:29 AMThe continuing popularity of the two Japanese marques makes us forget that 25 years ago their introduction was a serious marketing gamble.
Nissan Names Former Disney Exec to Head U.S. Marketing
September 04, 2014 at 12:28 AMNissan Motor Co. has hired Jeremy Tucker, formerly vice president for strategic marketing with the Walt Disney Co.'s consumer products business, to become vice president of marketing communications and media.
Goodyear Names New Global Sales Chief
September 02, 2014 at 7:15 AMRichard Kellam, formerly global chief customer officer for candymaker Mars Inc., will take over as senior vice president of global sales and marketing at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. on Sept. 22.
GM to Move Some Cadillac Staff to NYC?
August 22, 2014 at 2:06 PMJohan de Nysschen, who took over as global head of General Motors Co.'s Cadillac brand on Aug. 1, may add or move some of the unit's operations most likely sales and marketing from Detroit to New York City, Automotive News opines.
The Nomenclature of Exclusivity
August 15, 2014 at 4:57 AMThe automotive fascination with platinum is rather interesting.
Acura Kicks Out the Jams to Promote TLX Sedan
August 12, 2014 at 10:53 AMHonda Motor Co.'s Acura unit says it is launching the brand's most expensive and complex marketing blitz ever to tout the new TLX midsize sport sedan, which is going on sale now.
Denso to Push Its Technology Beyond Toyota
August 04, 2014 at 10:37 AMDenso Corp., which is 22% owned by Toyota Motor Corp., is preparing to launch a global marketing effort in 2016 to promote its safety sensors to other mass-market carmakers, Automotive News reports.
VW Brand Names New Global Marketing Head
July 28, 2014 at 3:43 AMVolkswagen AG has named Xavier Chardon, its head of marketing for the VW brand in Europe, to become global marketing chief for the marque on Sept. 1.
How Green Is Auto?
July 08, 2014 at 5:06 AMWhen it comes to the environment, automobile companies are probably not as well thought of as other types of companies that cloak themselves in a green mantle.
VW’s Powertrain Approach, GM Recalls, IQS Numbers, & More
June 23, 2014 at 5:10 AMSo there’s the new, but now-familiar Volkswagen GTI with its 2.0-liter, direct-injected turbocharged engine that produces 217 hp.
Hyundai’s Marketing Chief in Europe Quits
June 13, 2014 at 6:53 AMMark Hall, who headed marketing in Europe for Hyundai Motor Co. over the past year, has left the company.
Nissan’s U.S. Marketing Chief Quits
May 12, 2014 at 12:53 AMNissan Motor Co. says Jon Brancheau, who has headed marketing for the company's North American unit since 2010, is leaving the company.
Subaru’s U.S. Marketing Chief Quits
May 05, 2014 at 12:09 AMDean Evans, chief marketing officer for Subaru of America for nearly three years, has left the company to pursue "different priorities and ventures," Automotive News reports.
Toyota Moving U.S. Operations from California to Texas
April 28, 2014 at 10:27 PMThis summer Toyota Motor Corp. will begin consolidating its U.S. sales, marketing, manufacturing and corporate operations outside Dallas in Plano, Tex.
UPDATE: Toyota to Move U.S. Operations to Texas
April 28, 2014 at 5:15 PMOver the next three years Toyota Motor Corp. will consolidate its manufacturing, corporate operations and sales and marketing units to a new U.S. headquarters in Plano, Tex.
Volvo Adjusts Strategy to Boost U.S. Sales
March 24, 2014 at 12:36 AMVolvo Car Corp. is doubling its marketing budget in the U.S. and improving its model mix there in an effort to reverse last year's 10% drop in sales, the Financial Times reports.
Ferrari Goes to a New Level (Hint: Not a high one)
March 21, 2014 at 5:00 AMThis is the Ferrari LaFerrari: Striking.
BMW Targets Third-Tier Cities in China
March 13, 2014 at 12:56 PMBMW AG is expanding its marketing efforts in China to relatively small cities with populations of a few million people each, the Financial Times reports.
A New Jeep, a Printed Concept Car & Mixing Diesel and Water
March 10, 2014 at 5:25 AMAt the Geneva Motor Show, Jeep introduced the Renegade—a small SUV that, unlike many other small SUVs, has a 4x4 system that is said to provide off-road capability (there is Jeep Active Drive, a full-time 4x4 system, and Jeep Active drive low, a 4x4 system that offers a 20:1 crawl ratio; there is a disconnecting real axle and power-take-off-unit to provide fuel efficiency when 4x4 isn’t required), a vehicle based off the “small-wide architecture” that’s used for the Fiat 500L, but engineered so that there is the aforementioned off-road capability (which also includes fully independent suspension and the ability to have up to 8.1 in. of wheel articulation and 8.7 in. of ground clearance); a vehicle that Jeep plans to sell in multiple global markets, so it is offering it with 16 different powertrain options, gasoline and diesel, manual and dual dry-clutch automatic, as well as the segment’s first nine-speed automatic; a Jeep that is being built in a Fiat plant in Melfi, Italy—it brought over a group of journalists, including Frank Marcus, technical director at Motor Trend.
2014 Ford Focus Titanium
March 05, 2014 at 5:22 AMSo, what is the biggest selling nameplate in the world?
Kia Replaces U.S. Sales Chief
February 10, 2014 at 1:37 AMKia Motors America has named Michael Sprague, formerly executive vice president of marketing and communications, to the newly created job of executive vice president of sales and marketing.
Volkswagen Rehires Exec to Head U.S. Sales
January 30, 2014 at 12:15 AMVolkswagen of America has lured back Mark Barnes, who left the company in May 2012 to take a job as vice president of sales, marketing and aftersales for General Motors Co.'s international unit.
GM May Cut 1,100 Jobs in Korea
January 24, 2014 at 2:18 PMGeneral Motors Co.'s decision to stop marketing its Chevrolet brand in Europe next year may eliminate one shift and 1,100 jobs at its assembly plant in Gunsan, South Korea, according to Reuters, which cites an unidentified source.
VW’s Labor Chief: Company’s U.S. Business Is a “Disaster”
January 22, 2014 at 9:35 PMBernd Osterloh, chairman of Volkswagen AG's global works council, tells reporters in Germany that the company's skimpy product lineup and lack of marketing prowess in the American market is a "disaster."
Ford’s Farley Backpedals After Customer Tracking Comment
January 13, 2014 at 12:12 AMLast week Ford Motor Co. marketing chief Jim Farley implied to a panel at the Consumer Electronics Show that Ford is using GPS to track the movement of its customers.
GM Names Paul Edwards to Head Chevrolet Marketing in U.S.
January 07, 2014 at 11:17 PMGeneral Motors Co. has appointed Paul Edwards as vice president in charge of Chevrolet's U.S. marketing, effective immediately.
Chevrolet’s U.S. Marketing Chief Quits
December 18, 2013 at 7:45 PMChris Perry, who took over as head of marketing for General Motors Co.'s Chevrolet brand in 2010, has resigned.
GM to Pull Chevrolet Out of Europe
December 05, 2013 at 4:35 AMGeneral Motors Co. says it will stop marketing its mainstream Chevrolet vehicles in Europe in 2016.
Chevrolet to Exit Mainstream European Market
December 05, 2013 at 3:54 AMGeneral Motors Co. says it will stop marketing its high-volume Chevrolet vehicles in Europe in 2016.
Volkswagen Hires Nissan Executive to Head U.S. Marketing
November 11, 2013 at 11:23 PMVolkswagen AG has hired Vinay Shahani, formerly marketing director for Nissan Motor Co.'s Nissan brand in North America, to be its vice president of marketing in the same region.
Maserati Names New Marketing Chief
November 11, 2013 at 10:17 PMFiat SpA has appointed Saad Chehab, head the company's Chrysler and Lancia brands since 2011, as chief marketing officer at Maserati SpA, effective immediately.
Cadillac’s New Marketing Chief Aims to Make Brand “Relevant”
November 11, 2013 at 12:52 AMUwe Ellinghaus, who will take over as Cadillac's chief marketing office on Jan. 1, tells Bloomberg News the brand is admired and well-like but not "particularly relevant" among luxury-car shoppers.
Cadillac Adds a Global Marketing Chief
November 08, 2013 at 10:26 AMGeneral Motors Co. has named Uwe Ellinghaus to become its Cadillac brand's chief marketing officer, a new position for the luxury car unit, on Jan. 1.
Grand Tourer Joining Kia Lineup by 2017
October 28, 2013 at 12:44 AMKia Motors Corp. overseas marketing chief tells Auto Express the GT concept vehicle it unveiled at the Frankfurt auto show in 2011 will go into production in about three years.
Nissan Picks Omnicom to Consolidate Branding
October 03, 2013 at 1:19 PMNissan Motor Corp. has chosen New York City-based Omnicom Group to manage its global brand marketing worldwide.
Felice Tapped As Ford’s New U.S. Sales Chief
September 16, 2013 at 12:50 AMFord Motor Co. has named John Felice, currently general sales manager for Ford and Lincoln, as vice president of U.S. marketing, sales and service, effective Nov. 1.
Renault Shuffles Management Team After COO Exit
September 09, 2013 at 9:34 PMRenault SA has promoted manufacturing and purchasing head Thierry Bollore to chief competitiveness officer and named sales and marketing boss Jerome Stoll as chief performance officer.
AMG Chief to Head Mercedes Sales, Marketing
September 03, 2013 at 11:06 PMDaimler AG has appointed Ola Kaellenius, chairman of its Mercedes-AMG performance unit, to become executive vice president of sales and marketing for the Mercedes car brand on Oct. 1.
Daimler Taps AMG Chief to Head Mercedes Sales
September 03, 2013 at 11:05 PMOla Kaellenius, chairman of Daimler AG's Mercedes-AMG performance unit, has been appointed executive vice president of sales and marketing for the Mercedes car brand, effective Oct. 1.
JLR Changes Global Sales, Marketing Structure
August 28, 2013 at 1:31 AMTata Motors Ltd.'s Jaguar Land Rover unit is shuffling its management structure to eliminate the title of global brand director and strengthen the roles of global sales and marketing chiefs.
JLR N. America President to Head Global Sales
August 28, 2013 at 1:31 AMTata Motors Ltd.'s Jaguar Land Rover unit is shuffling its management structure to eliminate the title of global brand director and strengthen the roles of global sales and marketing chiefs.
Drive-ins & Dream Cruises
August 16, 2013 at 4:36 AMIf you think back to American Graffiti, the film that celebrated the time when things like drive-in theaters were in their heyday, you’ll remember the two primary cars in that movie were a ’32 Ford and a ’55 Chevy.
Infiniti Names Global Marketing Chief
August 11, 2013 at 5:44 PMNissan Motor Co.'s Infiniti brand has hired Vincent Gillet, a specialist in marketing luxury brands, to become its vice president for marketing next month.
Nissan’s European Sales Chief Quits
July 28, 2013 at 5:18 PMPaul Willcox, senior vice president for European sales and marketing at Nissan Motor Co., has left the company after two years in that job and 21 years with Nissan.
Comic Cars
July 22, 2013 at 5:34 AMIt’s summer time, so apparently some OEMs are turning to flights of fancy.
Volvo’s New Marketing Chief Departs Abruptly
July 15, 2013 at 12:59 AMAlain Visser has left Volvo Car Corp. after 14 days as the company's senior vice president of marketing, sales and customer service, Automotive News reports.
It’s July. Think of. . .Hockey?
July 03, 2013 at 4:48 AMWhile we realize that the Stanley Cup was won with some serious late-game action by the Chicago Blackhawks a little over one week ago (on June 24), we found it amusing that earlier this week ANCO announced that it is “The Official Wiper Blade of the National Hockey League” for the 2013-14 season.
Telematics, Infotainment & Open the Pod Door, HAL
July 01, 2013 at 5:09 AMAccording to Ford, SYNC and MyFordTouch are sold on 79% of new Ford vehicles.
Opel Hires Consumer Goods Marketer as CMO
June 26, 2013 at 10:54 PMGeneral Motors Co.'s Opel unit has named Tina Mueller, a former marketing executive at Germany's Henkel AG & Co.
Opel Recruits Consumer Goods Exec to Head Marketing
June 26, 2013 at 10:53 PMAdam Opel has hired Tina Mueller, a former marketing executive at Germany's Henkel AG & Co.
SEAT Replaces Sales Chief in Continuing Shakeup
June 23, 2013 at 7:23 PMVolkswagen AG's Martorell, Spain-based SEAT unit has named Andreas Offermann as executive committee member for sales and marketing, starting on Sept. 1.
Chevy Marketer Docherty to Retire from GM Europe
June 21, 2013 at 4:30 PMSusan Docherty, former U.S. sales and marketing chief for General Motors Co., will retire as president of Chevrolet and Cadillac European operations on Sept. 1.
Marketer Docherty to Retire from GM Europe
June 21, 2013 at 4:16 PMSusan Docherty, former U.S. sales and marketing chief for General Motors Co., will retire as president of Chevrolet and Cadillac European operations on Sept. 1.
Mercedes Brushes Up Sales Skills in China
June 19, 2013 at 3:11 AMDaimler AG's Mercedes-Benz Cars unit has established a unit based at its Stuttgart headquarters that will coordinate marketing, sales and training for the brand's sales group in China.
Horsepower and Logos
May 10, 2013 at 6:57 AMJust one glance at a NASCAR race shows you that there is a proliferation of commercial support, from bath soap to energy drinks, from hand tools to website domain firms.
Auto Veteran Beattie Joins Kawasaki
May 05, 2013 at 5:37 PMKawasaki Motors Corp. has hired former Jaguar Land Rover executive Richard Beattie as its chief marketing and sales officer for the U.S. and Latin America.
Cadillac Names Global Directors
April 15, 2013 at 10:43 AMPosted: April 15, 2013 at 2:10 amGeneral Motors Co. has hired Steve Majoros, managing director of Campbell Ewald advertising agency, to the newly created post of director of global Cadillac marketing.Majoros joined Campbell Ewald in 1988.
Cadillac Names Global Directors
April 15, 2013 at 2:10 AMGeneral Motors Co. has hired Steve Majoros, managing director of Campbell Ewald advertising agency, to the newly created post of director of global Cadillac marketing.
Fiat Rolls Out an Electric 500...for California Only?
April 15, 2013 at 12:34 AMFiat SpA is poised to introduce an electric version of its tiny 500 city car in California this summer with an aggressive marketing program aimed at overcoming buyer concerns about electrics.
Chrysler’s Ram Chief Joins Nissan
April 14, 2013 at 5:34 PMNissan Motor Co. has hired Fred Diaz, CEO of Chrysler Group LLC's Ram brand and its Mexico unit, as vice president of sales and marketing for the Nissan brand in North America.
Millennials & Cars
March 28, 2013 at 12:00 AMAccording to Zipcar, owning a car costs about $800 per month. A person who uses Zipcar for 10 two-hour, two three-hour, and two 24-hour trips over a given month will spend about $333.
Infiniti Hires Lamborghini Exec to Head Europe Unit
March 24, 2013 at 4:56 PMNissan Motor Co.'s Infiniti unit has recruited Lamborghini sales and marketing chief Fintan Knight to head the Japanese luxury brand's European operations, starting May 1.
Honda’s U.S. Marketing Chief Shoulders New Duties
March 18, 2013 at 10:32 PMHonda Motor Co. has given Mike Accavitti, vice president of U.S. auto marketing, broader responsibilities for production planning, Automotive News reports.
BMW May Hire Ex-Audi Sales Chief
March 13, 2013 at 10:37 PMBMW AG plans to hire Peter Schwarzenbauer, former sales and marketing chief at Volkswagen AG's Audi unit, in an unspecified senior management position, Bloomberg News reports.
BMW May Hire Ex-Audi Sales Chief Schwarzenbauer
March 13, 2013 at 10:25 PMBMW AG plans to hire Peter Schwarzenbauer, former sales and marketing chief at Volkswagen AG's Audi unit, in an unspecified senior management position, Bloomberg News reports.
Permission to Excel
March 01, 2013 at 12:00 AMArt is personal. Individual. Going through the motions of a task is repeatable. Automatable. Odds are better if you opt for the artistic approach rather than the other, as the other is what can be readily replaced or otherwise outsourced.
Bentley Fragrances: Probably Not Like Teen Spirit
February 28, 2013 at 8:12 AMNissan did something entirely different in its display at the North American International Auto Show.
Former Avon CEO to Join Daimler Board
February 27, 2013 at 7:49 PMDaimler AG has nominated Andrea Jung, the former CEO of New York City-based cosmetics marketer Avon Products Inc., to its supervisory board.
VW Exec Hired As Chevy’s Top Marketer
February 25, 2013 at 4:06 PMGeneral Motors Co. has recruited longtime auto marketer Tim Mahoney as global chief marketing officer for its Chevrolet brand, effective April 1.
Autos, Autocrats & Other Observations
February 25, 2013 at 5:07 AMCharlie Hughes—who has worked for a number of OEMs, including as CEO of Land Rover in North America, and as president and CEO of Mazda North America, who is currently head of Brand Rules, a consultancy on branding—thinks that the auto companies that are gaining the most traction and momentum are those that are, in effect, run by. . .autocrats.
Ford Paid $6.7 Million to Lure Marketing Exec from Toyota
February 21, 2013 at 2:03 AMJim Farley received a $1.5 million signing bonus and $1 million of options and restricted stock when he left Toyota Motor Corp. in October 2007 to become Ford Motor Co.'s chief marketing officer.
Opel Sales Chief Quits
January 25, 2013 at 3:39 PMGeneral Motors Co.'s Opel unit has appointed Duncan Aldred as acting sales and marketing chief to replace Alfred Rieck, who resigned after six months in the job.
Audi, Infiniti, James Bond, and Q
December 19, 2012 at 4:50 AMThis is Ben Whishaw, the brand new Q in the James Bond franchise (in Skyfall): For others, this is a Q, an Audi Q5, to be precise, a compact SUV: Here is its big brother, the Audi Q7: This is Johan de Nysschen, who became head of Infiniti this past July: Mr. de Nysschen’s previous job had been heading Audi in the U.S.
Bentley Names New Europe Chief
December 16, 2012 at 5:28 PMVolkswagen AG's Bentley Motors has hired Bart Gerris as regional director for its European sales and marketing unit, starting Jan. 1.
Nissan Taps Latin America Sales Chief for Americas Job
December 06, 2012 at 2:03 AMNissan Motor Co. says Jose Munoz, senior vice president of Latin American sales and marketing, will add the same titles for the company's U.S. and Canadian operations on April 1.
Nissan Taps Latin America Chief to Head N. America
December 06, 2012 at 2:02 AMNissan Motor Co. says Jose Munoz, senior vice president of Latin American sales and marketing, will add the same titles for the company's U.S. and Canadian operations on April 1.
GM to Trim N. American Production
December 04, 2012 at 12:55 AMGeneral Motors Co. says it will make unspecified reductions to output in North America and adjust its marketing in response to bloated inventories of fullsize pickup trucks.
Accelerate: Nov/Dec
November 30, 2012 at 12:00 AMBlack ULTEM; More Scanning, Less Moving; Rapid Mfg to Double by '17; Point, Shoot, Scan
GM May Split Duties of Former Global Marketing Chief
November 28, 2012 at 10:27 PMMark Reuss, president of General Motors Co.'s North America unit, tells Bloomberg News that the company is interviewing candidates for several senior marketing jobs.
Ex-GM Marketer Ewanick Joins Fisker
November 27, 2012 at 1:32 AMHybrid car maker Fisker Automotive Inc. has hired Joel Ewanick, General Motors Co.'s former global marketing chief, as interim head of global sales and marketing.
Ford Names New EV Marketer Amid Product Blitz
October 23, 2012 at 4:47 PMFord Motor Co. has appointed C.J.
Akerson Puts New Twist on GM Marketing
October 15, 2012 at 11:47 PMCEO Dan Akerson is revamping General Motors Co.'s marketing structure by naming executives to run the global sales and marketing operations of the Cadillac and Chevrolet brands, Automotive News reports.
Mazda Recruits New U.S. Marketing Boss
October 01, 2012 at 10:44 PMMazda Motor Corp. has hired veteran auto advertising executive Russell Wagner as vice president of American marketing.
Paris, Autoextremist, 2953 Analytics & More
October 01, 2012 at 5:00 AMThink of it as a bit of Monday-morning quaterbacking. Yes, this is Monday. But the following occurred on Thursday, the first media day of the Paris Motor Show.
Marketing Chief Leaves BMW
September 23, 2012 at 11:15 PMBMW AG says Uwe Ellinghaus, manager of its namesake brand and head of group marketing, will step down on Oct. 15.
Firestone: In the Car Business 112 Years
September 06, 2012 at 4:54 AMWhile it may be a bit of a stretch, Firestone (part of Bridgestone Americas) is running an advertising campaign that has an interesting thesis: although it is not a car company per se, given its 112 years in producing automotive tires, and its 86 years in service, during which it has serviced 11,000 makes and models and over 500-million vehicles in total, it sort of is a car company.
Volvo Hires Ex-Opel Sales Chief
August 22, 2012 at 11:13 PMAlain Visser who quit General Motors Co. this spring just as he was about to become the Chevrolet brand's global marketing chief will join Volvo Car Corp. on Sept. 3 in a newly created post overseeing global sales operations.
Honda Debuts Robotic Lawn Mower
August 21, 2012 at 10:25 PMHonda Motor Co. will begin marketing Miimo, a $2,600 robot lawn mower, in the European market next year.
Audi in the City
August 21, 2012 at 5:30 AMOne of the things that probably slipped under most coverage of London 2012 was that Audi took the opportunity to open its first “Audi City” operation in Piccadilly Circus, just prior to the opening of the Games. “Audi City” is not, of course, a city.
Whistleblower Reportedly Brought Down GM Marketer
August 08, 2012 at 5:57 PMA whistleblower on General Motors Co.'s marketing staff informed the company about irregularities in the way Chief Marketing Officer Joel Ewanick handled its new sponsorship deal with English soccer club Manchester United, Bloomberg News reports.
GM Won’t Change Marketing Strategy
August 02, 2012 at 10:35 PMGeneral Motors Co. declares it will forge ahead with the marketing and advertising strategy engineered by former Chief Marketing Officer Joel Ewanick over the past two years.
GM Fires Its Marketing Chief
July 30, 2012 at 1:15 AMGeneral Motors Co. has dismissed Joel Ewanick, the global chief marketing officer it hired with much fanfare 27 months ago.
GM Marketer's Ouster May Be Tied to U.K. Football Deal
July 29, 2012 at 11:49 PMGeneral Motors Co. has dismissed Joel Ewanick, the global chief marketing officer it hired with much fanfare 27 months ago.
GM Ousts Marketing Chief Ewanick
July 29, 2012 at 11:45 PMGeneral Motors Co. has dismissed Joel Ewanick, the global chief marketing officer it hired with much fanfare 27 months ago.
Opel May Seek a Restructuring Pro As CEO
July 25, 2012 at 7:09 PMGeneral Motors Co.'s Opel unit, which is seeking a new CEO, should talk to former GM global purchasing czar Bo Andersson, ex-Renault COO Patrick Pelata and former PSA marketing head Jean-Marc Gales, Automotive News opines.
Beyond Global Platforms
July 25, 2012 at 12:00 AMAfter of a couple decades of false starts, the Detroit-based OEMs have finally read the memo that the companies based in Europe, Japan and South Korea read a long time ago: Commonized global structures are here to stay.
Former GM Marketer Starts New Firm
July 16, 2012 at 8:45 PMMike Jackson, former General Motors marketing chief for North America, and Las Vegas-based marketing agency R&R Partners have established Jackson & Partners in Detroit to provide marketing services to auto dealers.
Mazda’s Top North American Marketer Quits
July 12, 2012 at 12:32 AMDon Romano, chief marketing office Mazda Motor Corp.'s North American unit, has left after 12 years at the company, Automotive News reports.
Porsche Repeats: No Plan for Lower-Cost Sports Car
June 21, 2012 at 9:43 PMPorsche AG confirms it will not develop a lower-cost roadster because anything cheaper than its $49,500 Boxster sports car "doesn't fit our brand." Bernhard Maier, who heads Porsche sales and marketing, tells this week's Automotive News Europe Congress the brand is determined to maintain an image exclusivity even as it boosts sales volume.
Audi Promotes Marketing Exec to Lead U.S. Unit
June 21, 2012 at 8:17 PMVolkswagen AG's Audi unit has appointed Scott Keogh, chief marketing officer for its American unit, as president of those operations.
Porsche Repeats: No Plan for Lower-Cost Sports Car
June 21, 2012 at 7:51 PMPorsche AG confirms it will not develop a lower-cost roadster because anything cheaper than its $49,500 Boxster sports car "doesn't fit our brand." Bernhard Maier, who heads Porsche sales and marketing, tells this week's Automotive News Europe Congress the brand is determined to maintain its image of exclusivity even as it boosts volume.
ZAP Recalls Chinese-Made Three-Wheel EV
June 04, 2012 at 11:36 PMZAP Jonway, the Santa Rosa, Calif.-based marketer of electric vehicles, is recalling Chinese-built ZAP Xebra electric sedans that fail to meet federal braking standards.
Scintillating at Any Speed
June 04, 2012 at 5:00 AMLast Monday, Memorial Day in the U.S., we recommended that you might kick back and watch a relaxing-but-possibly-invigorating edition of “Autoline After Hours.” But now you are back at work.
Fiat Studies Marketing Approach to India
May 21, 2012 at 11:16 PMItaly's Fiat SpA tells The Wall Street Journal it will decide by early next year which of its brands to promote in India as it tries to catch such competitors as Suzuki, Toyota and Volkswagen.
Honda: Seeing Too Far?
May 18, 2012 at 5:09 AMTheodore Levitt, in 1960, published a paper in the Harvard Business Review titled “Marketing Myopia.” Fundamental to the piece is the question, “What market are you in?” One of the famous examples he used is the railroad industry, which was in decline at that time as a mode of personal transportation, as people were taking other alternatives.
GM Hires VW Exec to Head Asia-Pacific Sales
May 08, 2012 at 6:23 PMGeneral Motors Co. has recruited Mark Barnes, a veteran U.S. sales executive at Volkswagen AG, as vice president of sales, marketing and aftersales at its international unit.
Chrysler Opens Its First Office in Detroit
April 30, 2012 at 5:20 PMChrysler Group LLC says 70 regional sales and marketing employees will move this summer into a downtown Detroit office building, which will be renamed Chrysler House.
What Would Sheldon Drive?
April 07, 2012 at 5:22 AMAs viewers of “The Big Bang Theory” know, cars don’t play much of a role in the lives of the characters.
MINI Goes Hollywood
April 04, 2012 at 5:36 AMMaybe it is a tribute to the return of Madonna (remember the 1986 “Open Your Heart” video?), but MINI has undertaken a rather cleverly risqué approach to “revealing” the MINI Roadster in Hollywood, having taken over a building on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and N.
Musical Chairs
May 05, 2010 at 10:56 AMThere is considerable buzz in offices around the auto industry today with the announcement that Joel Ewanick is moving from Nissan North America, where he was vice president of Marketing, and up to Detroit, where he will be the vice president of U.S.
Same As It Ever Was
April 08, 2010 at 9:58 AMAlthough it seems that vehicle manufacturers try to change their images and marketing messages more frequently than the weather changes in Detroit, we were surprised to come upon this message today from Jim Campbell, U.S. vp of Chevrolet marketing: “Nothing is as American as baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet. We are proud to continue the tradition as the ‘Official Vehicle of Major League Baseball®.’ With our dealers we also hope to help prepare some future stars for the Majors with our support of youth baseball.” Certainly, that baseball, hot dogs. . .phrase is one that certainly caught on in its day. And clearly it resonates with a certain demographic of people who are likely to buy Chevys. Whether it is a sustainable demographic or one that is going to, um, not buy a whole lot of cars and trucks going forward is the question. Of course, when Chevy sends a bunch of bloggers to South by Southwest, it is clear they’re covering themselves.
Not Just “A Tire”
December 07, 2009 at 1:37 PMWhile this might look like, well, a tire, according to Dan King, vice president Yokahama Tire sales and marketing, “It’s quite possibly the most complete tire ever created.” Given the number of tires that have ever been created, that’s quite a claim.
Steeling to Unintended Consequences
November 03, 2009 at 1:41 PMTo quote the legendary Roseanne Roseannadanna, “It’s always something.” Or, to quote Jody Shaw, manager of technical marketing and product research for U.S.
2010 Mazda3 S Four-Door Grand Touring
October 19, 2009 at 8:54 AMIf you are in your 30s and tell one of your peers that you haven’t seen for a while that you’re driving a compact car, chances are that person might think that (1) you didn’t study hard enough in college and that consequently that marketing degree just hasn’t worked out all that well for you; (2) you have some sort of environmental bent and are trying to minimize the amount of fuel you use, even though you don’t even recycle bottles that you have to pay a deposit on out of sheer laziness; (3) you probably aren’t all that interesting any more, anyway.
GM’s Guarantee
September 10, 2009 at 4:48 PM“We think if consumers give us a fair chance and look at the facts on the things that matter most to them, like design, fuel economy, warranty, and safety, our vehicles are the best choices—that’s what makes an offer like this possible.” That’s Bob Lutz, GM vice chairman, Marketing and Communications, talking about the GM Satisfaction Guarantee, which allows customers to return their new GM Chevy, Buick, GMC, or Cadillac (except medium-duty trucks) to their dealer between 31 and 60 days after purchase and get a full refund. Presumably, they’re figuring that people will like their vehicles so much, they’ll keep them.
Ford Quality: Not An Overnight Sensation
February 01, 2008 at 12:00 AMWhen it comes to quality, it seems as though Ford Motor Co. is on a roll.
Cars In Cuba
February 01, 2003 at 12:00 AMWith 11 million educated citizens, Cuba is a huge, untapped automotive market.
Microsoft Tightens the Web with its .NET Initiative
February 01, 2001 at 12:00 AMLast summer, Microsoft announced Microsoft .NET. Marketing hyperbole aside, this initiative is planned to dramatically change the way your computer and computer applications operate. It also could have a profound effect on your business.
What You Can Learn from Firestone & Ford
November 01, 2000 at 12:00 AMDuring recent months, the Firestone/Ford Explorer fiasco has shaken the entire automotive industry to its core.
Automotive Competitive Intelligence 101: A Beginner's Guide
August 01, 2000 at 12:00 AMThe phrase "competitive intelligence" refers to the monitoring of a competitor's products and market activities through the use of an intelligence gathering process.
Can You Glue A Car Together?
August 01, 1999 at 12:00 AMI'm not talking about a plastic Revell model of a '57 Chevy, but a real vehicle, one that rolls off an assembly line in 1999 with another 99,999 just like it right behind. Is it possible, or is this just a fantasy of the marketing department at Elmer's?
What you see in PRODUCT VISUALIZATION is what you get
April 01, 1998 at 12:00 AMVisualization is an affordable technology for quickly and realistically depicting data visually. Besides being great for marketing, visualization saves prototyping time and expense, and it lets users see physical conditions not obvious in 2D or 2 1/2 D.