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Automotive

Volkswagen centers Golf R campaign around iPad app

Tim Peterson January 19, 2012

Volkswagen has launched a campaign and an iPad app to drive sales for its 2012 Golf R model, said Charlie Taylor, the car company's general manager of digital marketing, on Jan. 19. Volkswagen worked with digital agency AKQA to create the app.

Opel Movano delivers brand impressions with banner ad

Allison Schiff January 01, 2012

The Opel Movano can move up to 3.5 tons and 2 GB. To raise awareness about the utility vehicle's actual "utility" as a transporter of large loads of cargo, Belgium-based agency McCann Lowe created a Web banner that serves double duty as an advertising vehicle and a file transfer device: The banner "carries your stuff... across the Web."

Game time

Tim Peterson January 01, 2012

Marketing experts agree that gamification drives powerful and prolonged consumer engagements. But is the technology too new to invest in?

Experian launches North American consulting practice

Dianna Dilworth December 06, 2011

Marketing services firm Experian expanded its Global Consulting Practice, the company's data and analysis consulting division, to serve clients in the North American market.

Hertz to target concertgoers with Live Nation partnership

Tim Peterson December 05, 2011

Car rental company The Hertz Corp. and Live Nation Entertainment will enable consumers to book car rentals while purchasing concert tickets on LiveNation.com or Ticketmaster.com beginning in January.

Car brands raise digital marketing bar

Carol Krol December 01, 2011

Automotive manufacturer Ford Motor Co. unveiled the 2013 Ford Escape on Nov. 15 using social game developer Zynga's popular "Words With Friends" game and a competition against actress Jenny McCarthy, who played the Scrabble-like game live in Los Angeles.

BMW gains mileage on hybrid campaign through CRM

Alex Palmer November 30, 2011

BMW may sell hundreds of thousands of cars each year, but for its latest model, the all-electric commuter car ActiveE, it's looking for just 700 passionate consumers.

Ford to debut SUV via Zynga game

Tim Peterson November 15, 2011

Automotive manufacturer Ford Motor Co. will unveil the 2013 Ford Escape on Nov. 15 via social game developer Zynga's "Words With Friends" game. Ford is working with its ad agency Team Detroit on the initiative.

Hyundai's Veloster campaign increased related Web traffic 73%: DMCNY

Juan Martinez October 21, 2011

Hyundai Motor America's October integrated marketing campaign promoting the Veloster automobile delivered a 73% increase in Veloster-related visits on Hyundai.com, said Jon Budd, senior group manager of CRM and interactive marketing at Hyundai.

Chevy marketing exec tells magazine publishers: 'It's about survival'

Tony Case October 04, 2011

The auto industry and magazine publishers have more in common than one might think - both "were dragged kicking and screaming into the twenty-first century," Jean Jennings, president and editor-in-chief of Source Interlink Media's Automobile Magazine, told attendees of the 2011 American Magazine Conference on Oct. 4 in New York.

Porsche Cars North America to tag boarding passes with 2-D barcodes

Tim Peterson September 27, 2011

Porsche Cars North America will launch a campaign in October that affixes 2-D barcodes to printed boarding passes. The campaign will promote the 2012 Porsche 911 and 2012 Porsche Panamera models.

Nissan touts Versa with iAd, direct mail

Tim Peterson August 29, 2011

Nissan launched an integrated campaign August 29 to support the company's 2012 Versa sedan. The carmaker worked with advertising agency TBWA\Chiat\Day's Los Angeles office, digital agency Critical Mass and media firm OMD on the campaign.

Virgin America, Hertz partner on car-rental promotions

Juan Martinez August 18, 2011

Virgin America and The Hertz Corp. have partnered to give members of the airline's Elevate loyalty program exclusive deals on Hertz rental cars. Elevate members who rent cars from Hertz will earn one point per $1 spent on qualifying rentals.

Six months after insulting tweet, Chrysler picks another social agency

Frank Washkuch August 17, 2011

Chrysler Group hired Ignite Social Media as its lead social agency this week after a review process. Expect the firm to be on its best behavior.

GM brands track social ROI with Facebook integration

Tim Peterson July 22, 2011

Automotive brands GMC and Buick have integrated their online vehicle-configuration tools with Facebook to better track social media ROI. The General Motors Corp. brands worked with digital agency MRM Worldwide on the initiative.

June credit spending increases 8.8%: report

Juan Martinez July 12, 2011

The amount of money spent at US merchant locations increased by 8.8% in June, compared with the prior year, according to First Data Corp.'s SpendTrend analysis for the month. The report measured credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT cards and checks spending.

Euro RSCG NY hires Witherspoon to boost Volvo digital work

Juan Martinez July 12, 2011

Euro RSCG New York has hired Allyson Witherspoon as global digital brand director, agency CEO Jeff Brooks said July 12. She replaced Maryann Pulvirenti, who left her position as the agency's client services director in April.

Q1 DRTV spending up slightly as overall ad expenditures grow 4.4%

Juan Martinez June 13, 2011

US direct response TV advertising spending increased 2% year-over-year to $1.59 billion in the first quarter of 2011, according to a June 13 Kantar Media report. Industry-wide US advertising expenditures increased 4.4% in Q1, compared with the prior year, to $32.5 billion, according to the New York-based media measurement firm and WPP Group subsidiary.

Beebe fills new digital role at General Motors

Kevin McKeefery June 02, 2011

General Motors has named Jon Beebe to the newly created post of director of digital strategy and integration. He reports to Liz Boone, global director of digital and social engagements.

Summer marketing advice from DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince

Juan Martinez May 31, 2011

Javelin Marketing Group's North American SVP of strategic planning, RP Kumar, offers insights on summer marketing. Does his wisdom hold up against a classic hip-hop jam?

Auto maintenance chains race to take the lead in digital marketing

Frank Washkuch May 01, 2011

Millions of American consumers obsess over their cars out whether for fun or out of necessity. Competing for the business of auto aficionados and do-it-yourselfers are many auto repair and maintenance chains, including AutoZone and Pep Boys.

Ford targets black women in Focus campaign

Juan Martinez April 12, 2011

Ford Motor Co. launched a national campaign promoting the 2012 Ford Focus to black women on April 11. The "Inner Child" effort campaign features digital, TV and radio components and collects consumer data for remarketing. The campaign was created by The UniWorld Group, Ford's African-American advertising AOR since 1986.

Hyundai turns to Shannon to steer US marketing

Juan Martinez April 08, 2011

Hyundai Motor America appointed Steve Shannon VP of marketing, effective April 18. He will be responsible for all marketing activities in the US and report to John Krafcik, president and CEO. Shannon will be Hyundai's third marketing chief in the past 13 months.

State Farm issues social sweepstakes on Facebook

Juan Martinez March 22, 2011

State Farm Insurance will launch a Facebook sweepstakes on March 31 to expand the number of potential customers who interact with the brand and to communicate the "good neighbor aspect" of the insurance company, said Brent Bynum, marketing manager at State Farm. Agency Proximity Chicago created the promotion.

Big Fuel opens Detroit outpost to handle GM

Juan Martinez December 27, 2010

Big Fuel, a New York-based marketing and communications agency, will open a Detroit office to handle social media campaigns for General Motors (GM).The expansion will allow Big Fuel to work with GM on a day-to-day basis, according to Seth Berk, VP of business development at Big Fuel. The two companies will collaborate on social media marketing campaigns structured around each individual GM brand line. The campaigns are expected to be rolled out throughout Q1 of 2011.

Honda busts into holiday marketing with Facebook NaughtyorNice app

Rose Gordon December 10, 2010

The holiday season makes every marketer see dollar signs, but breaking through the clutter of competitors' marketing messages isn't easy. Luckily, the holiday season also offers a little more flexibility in terms of creative boundaries.

Data integration with sales incentives drive car sales at MileOne dealership

Dianna Dilworth December 01, 2010

For car dealership network MileOne, lead generation can be tricky business. It does generate leads for consumers in the market to buy a car, but not many people are particularly loyal to car dealerships.

Online contests build consumer interest

Shahnaz Mahmud November 01, 2010

Brands are featuring user-generated digital content in their consumer-facing contests, adding a new online angle to a marketing strategy that has been used for decades.