Marketing Week
Automotives - News

Citroen extends crowdsourcing campaign

Thu, 10 May 2012

Citroen unveils car designed by Facebook fans and invites further design contribution through the social network.

Auto Trader to shift perception with site relaunch

Tue, 24 Apr 2012

Auto Trader wants to deepen engagement and become a destination beyond buying and selling cars.

Car brands eye social media for long-term engagement

Thu, 12 Apr 2012

Car brands are using social media to involve consumers in the design process as they look to stay front of mind in a sector that sees infrequent purchases.

Arsenal stars turn ballet dancers for Citroën

Tue, 10 Apr 2012

Oxlade-Chamberlain, Song, Sagna and Szczesny team up with the English National Ballet for DS5 promotion.

Volvo creates global social media marketing role

Mon, 2 Apr 2012

Volvo wants its global PR strategy to align more closely with its marketing strategy.

Mercedes designs furniture range

Mon, 26 Mar 2012

The car marque is bringing its technology and luxury design values together with a furniture range.

Nissan brings ‘human emotion’ to campaigns

Tue, 13 Mar 2012

Car marque repositions to focus on innovation rather than specifications.

Super Bowl ads 2012

Tue, 31 Jan 2012

The race is on to have the most popular advertisement in this year’s NFL showpiece.

Former T-Mobile marketer Lysa Hardy joins the RAC

Mon, 30 Jan 2012

Lysa Hardy, the lead marketer behind T-Mobile’s “Life’s for sharing” campaigns joins RAC as interim marketing director.

Peugeot celebrates “new car joy”

Tue, 24 Jan 2012

Peugeot hopes to cut through the “overblown” price deals rivals are offering by putting happiness and excitement at the centre of marketing strategy.

Brand consistency is crucial for cars

Wed, 11 Jan 2012

Car marketers who have bucked the downward trend say a coherent strategy and differentiation are crucial to reverse the slump in car sales.

Toyota targets youth with personalised content

Thu, 5 Jan 2012

The next phase of the Toyota Yaris Outsmart Life campaign lets young fans create personalised pop videos via social media.

Volvo signals “more direct and aggressive” marketing strategy

Fri, 16 Dec 2011

Volvo’s global CMO Richard Monturo outlines a more “direct and aggressive” brand strategy to boost its luxury perception.

Car industry moves to clarify eco messaging

Mon, 28 Nov 2011

Automotives industry moves to update guidelines on environmental marketing.

Poor marketing stalls sales of eco cars

Mon, 21 Nov 2011

Consumers are confused over the performance of eco-cars which is holding back the growth of the sector.

Harley Davidson launches crowdsourcing Facebook app

Wed, 9 Nov 2011

The motorcycle brand hopes crowdsourcing will help the business become more “customer led”.

Nissan launches six-year eco plan

Mon, 24 Oct 2011

Nissan sets out six-year environmental programme including reducing carbon footprint and increasing renewable energy.

Consumers are “cynical and wary” of eco car ads

Mon, 17 Oct 2011

Consumers are put off by too much green messaging in car marketing.

Hyundai aims to be part of London landscape

Thu, 29 Sep 2011

Hyundai has taken over the iconic Piccadilly Circus billboard.

HR Owen recruits Nokia marketer

Wed, 21 Sep 2011

Luxury car retailer believes Nokia marketer will bring digital and premium experience.

Renault ends News Int boycott

Tue, 13 Sep 2011

Renault has u-turned on its decision to boycott advertising in all News International titles following the phone hacking scandal at the News of the World that led to the paper’s closure.

Car brands must rev up emotional appeal

Mon, 12 Sep 2011

Automotive brands must emphasise the emotional value of their brand to differentiate from the competition and encourage sales as the number of consumers looking to buy a car declines, according to a study.

Mercedes hopes to attract younger fans

Mon, 5 Sep 2011

Mercedes Benz is looking to “transform” Mercedes Benz through marketing and design as it looks to target a younger audience.

Infiniti takes on German car brands

Mon, 5 Sep 2011

Japanese luxury car marque Infiniti is launching its first multi-channel brand campaign in a bid to raise its profile in Europe and take on German marques Mercedes, Audi and BMW.

Mini launches global adventure campaign

Wed, 31 Aug 2011

Mini is preparing to launch an integrated global campaign under the strapline “Another Day, Another Adventure” to celebrate the launch of the new Coupe model.

Mini signs up to ITV’s Jonathan Ross show

Wed, 24 Aug 2011

ITV’s new chat show The Jonathan Ross Show will be sponsored by Mini when it launches on ITV1 next month.

Toyota and Ford collaborate to build hybrid cars

Tue, 23 Aug 2011

Ford and Toyota, the world’s biggest seller of hybrid vehicles, are set to join forces to create a fuel-efficient system for pickup trucks and SUVs (sports utility vehicles).

Jaguar shuns clichés to target women

Fri, 12 Aug 2011

Jaguar has partnered with British Airways to launch a direct mail campaign targeting women in an “intelligent” way.

Chevrolet celebrates 100 years with new campaign

Tue, 2 Aug 2011

Chevrolet is hoping that its American heritage will appeal to European drivers as it launches a brand campaign to celebrate its centenary and introduce five new cars.

Toyota ranked top global green brand in Interbrand study

Tue, 26 Jul 2011

Toyota has been named the world’s greenest brand by Interbrand.

Ford names UK marketing chief amid reshuffle

Fri, 22 Jul 2011

Ford has named Anthony Ireson as its new UK marketing chief following the promotion of Mark Ovenden to managing director for Britain.

Audi names marketing chief

Fri, 8 Jul 2011

Audi has appointed former LG and Vodafone marketing chief Dominic Chambers to lead its UK marketing ahead of a £10bn investment in the brand and new models.

Ford appoints managing director for Britain

Mon, 4 Jul 2011

Ford’s British division has appointed its former marketing director, Mark Ovenden, as its new managing director.

Greenpeace slams Volkswagen with Darth Vader spoof

Tue, 28 Jun 2011

Greenpeace has attacked Volkswagen’s environmental credentials with a spoof of its recent Darth Vader ad campaign.

UK ad spend growth weaker than forecast, says AA/Warc

Tue, 21 Jun 2011

The forecast for UK advertising spend growth in 2011 has been halved in the latest Advertising Association (AA)/Warc figures.

Hyundai to advertise at London’s Piccadilly lights

Mon, 6 Jun 2011

Hyundai has agreed a multi-million pound deal with Land Securities to advertise on London’s Piccadilly lights.

Audi unveils Champions League final ad

Thu, 26 May 2011

Watch the ad here.

Peugeot launches space age ad campaign

Tue, 17 May 2011

An online prize draw to win a flight into space is part of a new advertising campaign by car giant Peugeot.

Hyundai readies biggest ever online campaign

Tue, 10 May 2011

Hyundai will launch its biggest ever online-only launch campaign later this year for its Veloster coupe model.

Ford to launch in-car WiFi

Wed, 4 May 2011

Ford will introduce in-car WiFi in its Ford Focus models from next year.

Citroen TV ad banned pre-watershed

Wed, 27 Apr 2011

Citroen’s television ad featuring cyclists chasing a C4 motor car has been slammed by the advertising watchdog in case it causes copycat behaviour by children.

News Corp mulls Formula 1 takeover

Wed, 20 Apr 2011

Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation is thought to be considering a bid to acquire Formula 1 racing.

Audi launches UK's first internet TV campaign

Tue, 19 Apr 2011

Audi has launched the UK’s first web-connected TV campaign to promote its A7 Sportback range.

BP ads try to repair image

Mon, 11 Apr 2011

Oil giant BP has launched an ad campaign to help repair its reputation following last year’s major oil spill.

Toyota partners with Microsoft

Thu, 7 Apr 2011

Toyota drivers will be able to access internet-based services in their vehicles following a partnership with Microsoft.

Tesco drives into the car sales market

Mon, 4 Apr 2011

Tesco is moving into the automotive market with the launch of a second hand car sales website.

Hyundai launches free app off back of sponsorship idents

Thu, 24 Mar 2011

Hyundai has created an iPhone app inspired by the brand’s TV idents for its sponsorship of Euro 2012 games.

Toyota unveils strategy to double profit

Wed, 9 Mar 2011

Toyota is to give more marketing control to its regional divisions as part of an overhaul of its corporate strategy aimed at doubling profit.

Mercedes restructures marketing team

Thu, 3 Mar 2011

Mercedes-Benz, the luxury car marque owned by Daimler, is on the hunt for a UK marketing director following a reshuffle of its senior marketing team.

Mercedes-Benz claims “Superbrand” crown

Mon, 28 Feb 2011

Mercedes-Benz has been named the UK’s top consumer “Superbrand”, while Rolls-Royce is the premier business brand, according to a study.

Volvo appoints global marketing chief

Thu, 24 Feb 2011

Volvo has appointed Richard Monturo as global marketing chief to lead its global brand strategy.

Kylie fronts Lexus ad push for hybrid model

Tue, 22 Feb 2011

Watch Kylie in new CT 200h ad here.

Ford launches outdoor augmented reality campaign

Thu, 17 Feb 2011

Ford is launching an augmented reality outdoor campaign to put its new C-Max model in the palm of consumers’ hands.

Peugeot launches comeback car

Tue, 8 Feb 2011

Peugeot is aiming to make a “comeback” into the larger car market with the launch of its new 508 model.

BP counts cost of oil spill

Tue, 1 Feb 2011

BP swung to a loss of £4.9bn (£3.1bn) last year, hit by the cost of cleaning up the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Land Rover speeds away with top newspaper ad award

Wed, 26 Jan 2011

Land Rover’s press campaign that ran during severe weather conditions last year has won the Newspaper Marketing Agency’s (NMA) top prize for creativity.

Toyota world’s biggest carmaker

Mon, 24 Jan 2011

Toyota has been named the world’s biggest carmaker for the third successive year, despite recalling millions of vehicles due to safety issues last year.

BMW launches branded sunglasses

Fri, 14 Jan 2011

BMW is to lend its brand name to a range of premium branded sunglasses in China.

Nissan breaks the norm with CRM approach to car launches

Wed, 12 Jan 2011

Nissan is looking to take a more CRM-led approach to launching new models in order to foster greater consumer emotional engagement.

Toyota Prius to become sub-brand

Tue, 11 Jan 2011

Toyota is expanding its range of Prius hybrid cars to bolster its green credentials.

Ford readies first ever in-car digital radio campaign

Thu, 23 Dec 2010

Car manufacturer Ford is to run the first ever radio campaign about in-car digital radio, promoting the format's benefits to drivers.

Toyota ad to star Supergrass’ Gaz Coombes

Thu, 16 Dec 2010

Toyota is launching an ad campaign starring Supergrass frontman Gaz Coombes to promote its Yaris model to young women.

China Mobile tops Chinese most valuable brand list

Tue, 14 Dec 2010

Millward Brown has unveiled a list of the Top 50 most valuable Chinese brands which together have a total value of $280bn (£177bn).

Advertising campaigns go green

Tue, 7 Dec 2010

Honda and Heineken are bidding to reduce the environmental impact of their advertising campaigns following the launch of new technology by Starcom MediaVest Group.

Car brands prepare price-led campaigns before VAT rise

Thu, 25 Nov 2010

Auto brands are stepping up their price-focused marketing in preparation for January’s VAT increase, which is expected to put pressure on new year sales.

Bauer puts the brakes on Max Power

Mon, 15 Nov 2010

Bauer Media is to end regular publication of its custom car title Max Power and axe the accompanying website.

Renault to launch The Simpsons branded car

Wed, 10 Nov 2010

Renault has partnered with Twentieth Century Fox to launch a limited edition Simpsons branded family car.

Nissan begins global recall of 2m cars

Thu, 28 Oct 2010

Nissan is recalling an estimated 2.1 million of its cars after a fault with the engine control system was discovered.

Retailers hold key to sustainable behaviour

Tue, 26 Oct 2010

Brands must work more closely with retailers to make their sustainability activities more tangible for consumers, according to a report by Havas Media.

ITV signs Kia Motors as FA Cup sponsor

Fri, 22 Oct 2010

ITV has signed up Kia Motors to be the full sponsor of its FA Cup coverage.

Toyota’s reputation hit by further recalls

Fri, 22 Oct 2010

Toyota is facing further reputation damage as it recalls 1.5 million cars globally after fears about the safety of brake and fuel injection systems in some of its high end models.

Land Rover to launch global campaign for Freelander 2

Thu, 14 Oct 2010

Land Rover is poised to launch a global marketing campaign for the 2011 Freelander 2 model.

World’s richest man Carlos Slim enters F1

Wed, 6 Oct 2010

Carlos Slim, the world’s richest man, is using the might of his global telecoms giant Telmex to enter F1 after the shock failure of the BMW Sauber project.

Toyota to launch "ground-breaking" film

Tue, 5 Oct 2010

Toyota is to launch a cutting-edge film featuring the latest projection mapping techniques to showcase the hybrid technology available inside its new Auris.

Hyundai names European marketer

Wed, 29 Sep 2010

Hyundai Motor Europe has appointed Mark Hall as its first marketing director for the region as it readies models to move into new market segments.

Mazda names new lead marketer

Thu, 9 Sep 2010

Mazda Motors UK has promoted Claire Andrews to the role of marketing director, following a restructure of the sales and marketing team.

Autoglass doubles marketing spend to become "superbrand"

Wed, 1 Sep 2010

Autoglass is doubling its marketing spend and ramping up its digital activity in a bid to become a “superbrand”.

Suzuki to recreate graffiti-themed TV ad in Westfield

Wed, 25 Aug 2010

Suzuki is to recreate its current grafitti-themed TV ad for its Swift model at a live event at the Westfield Shopping Centre next week.

Saab unveils ad blitz for 9-5 saloon

Thu, 19 Aug 2010

Watch the latest Saab campaign here.

Citroën unveils humorous digital marketing campaign

Tue, 17 Aug 2010

Citroën has launched a humorous digital marketing campaign called “Wash Me If You Can” which revolves around the C3’ Zenith windscreen.

Jaguar Land Rover to sponsor England 2018 bid

Thu, 12 Aug 2010

Jaguar Land Rover has signed up as an “Official Supporter” of England’s 2018 Football World Cup bid.

Lotus Racing owner to sponsor Premier League refs

Fri, 6 Aug 2010

Tune Group, the Asian travel and leisure company, is to sponsor Premier League referees from next season to help build recognition of its hotel brand ahead of a UK launch later this year.

Electric car company appoints CMO

Thu, 5 Aug 2010

THINK, a manufacturer of the THINK City electric car, has appointed Michael Lock to be its chief marketing officer.

BP's brand value sinks dramatically

Wed, 4 Aug 2010

BP has been leaking $72m (£45.1m) worth of brand value every day since its Deepwater Horizon rig exploded and started polluting the Gulf of Mexico in May, according to Brand Finance.

Volvo emphasises cars' beauty with global campaign

Wed, 4 Aug 2010

Watch the new Volvo campaign here

Car brands turn to digital media to promote their latest models

Wed, 28 Jul 2010

Nissan, Seat and Skoda are rolling out digital campaigns as car marques ramp up online activity ahead of the seasonal launch of new models.

Nissan unveils £8m launch campaign for Juke

Wed, 21 Jul 2010

Chrysler runs 'anti-British' ad campaign in US

Tue, 20 Jul 2010

American car manufacturer Chrysler is targeting a growing anti-British sentiment in the US, following the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, in its latest ad campaign.

BP sponsorship at risk as costs continue to mount

Mon, 19 Jul 2010

BP’s woes from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill seem to be continuing as the company reveals it has now spent $3.95bn (£2.58bn) tackling the spill, while the International Olympic Committee warns that its sponsorship of the 2012 London Olympics is at risk if it is found guilty of negligence.

Ford creates new global marketing role under centralisation plans

Thu, 15 Jul 2010

Ford has promoted its group vice president Jim Farley to become the company’s first global leader for marketing, sales and service.

Teutonia asks Lowe to review brand ahead of UK expansion

Wed, 14 Jul 2010

Teutonia, the premium pushchair and car seat manufacturer owned by Newell Rubbermaid, has appointed Lowe & Partner to act as the company’s brand consultants.

BP looks to win back customers with double loyalty points offer

Tue, 13 Jul 2010

BP is attempting to restore its image in the UK with an offer of double Nectar points for customers who use their petrol stations.

Victoria Beckham designs new Range Rover Evoque

Fri, 2 Jul 2010

Range Rover has unveiled its new ’compact’ Range Rover and revealed the interior is to be designed by Victoria Beckham, in a bid to attract younger, fashion-conscious buyers.

Peugeot and Disney launch Toy Story 3 campaign

Thu, 1 Jul 2010

Peugeot and Disney are launching a European-wide campaign to capitalise on the upcoming release of the latest movie in the Toy Story franchise.

Toyota crisis set to deepen after engine faults emerge

Thu, 1 Jul 2010

Toyota is facing another backlash after the automotive firm warned of a potential fault with the engines of about 270,000 cars it has sold worldwide.

Vauxhall shifts focus to customer experiences in board reshuffle

Mon, 28 Jun 2010

Vauxhall is reshuffling its marketing department in a bid to develop new strategies for the struggling company.

New Audi campaign uses sculpture to highlight technology

Thu, 24 Jun 2010

Audi’s new national print campaign seeks to demonstrate every detail of its flagship A8 car is ’relentlessly refined and perfected’ through pioneering technology.

Toyota and EDF join forces in electric car scheme

Tue, 22 Jun 2010

Toyota is entering into a three-year partnership with EDF Energy as the companies attempt to ramp up their association with green energy.

Vodafone unveils ad featuring Button and Hamilton

Fri, 18 Jun 2010

Vodafone has unveiled its latest Power to You television campaign, fronted by Vodafone McLaren Mercedes drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton.

BP agrees to suspend dividend and create compensation funds

Thu, 17 Jun 2010

BP has agreed to set aside a $20bn (£13.5bn) compensation fund for victims of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and says it will withhold dividends until the end of the year, following a meeting with US President Barack Obama last night.

Mercedes Benz promotes SLS with 3D campaign

Tue, 15 Jun 2010

Mercedes-Benz is to launch its SLS AMG car in 3D as part of a £1m integrated campaign featuring former F1 driver David Coulthard.

BSM unveils online campaign to boost brand engagement with younger demographic

Tue, 15 Jun 2010

The British School of Motoring (BSM) is increasing its online activity with the launch of a six-figure integrated summer ad campaign, as it looks to establish itself as the key destination site for young drivers.

Renault advertises new models with online reality show

Mon, 14 Jun 2010

Renault has unveiled an integrated marketing push to promote the launch of its Mégane Coupé Cabriolet and Wind models, centred on an online reality television show.

Mercedes unveils global brand campaign

Fri, 11 Jun 2010

Mercedes is unveiling a new global brand campaign, which features its employees reinforcing the brand’s new strapline “the best or nothing”.

Lexus readies below the line push for “baby Lexus”

Wed, 9 Jun 2010

Lexus, is launching a direct and digital campaign to boost awareness and generate interest in its “baby Lexus” model, ahead of production later this year.

Toyota assigns highest share of marketing spend to online for pair of ad campaigns

Wed, 9 Jun 2010

Toyota has made its biggest online investment to date with the launch of two branding campaigns, to back the release of its Auris Hybrid model and promote its overall brand.

Hertz champions Wimbledon partnership in latest ad drive

Tue, 8 Jun 2010

Hertz is unveiling a Wimbledon themed campaign to drive awareness of its partnership with the tennis Championships. 

Toyota features employees in its latest reassurance push

Mon, 7 Jun 2010

Toyota has begun rolling out its “Your Toyota is My Toyota” advertising campaign, which features real employees championing the marque following its global recall crisis.

Car sales rise but Toyota continues to falter

Fri, 4 Jun 2010

New car sales in the UK rose 13.5% in May, compared with the same month a year ago, but Toyota is continuing to see sales fall according to the latest industry figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Mercedes hires former VW marketer to lead UK cars division

Thu, 3 Jun 2010

Mercedes-Benz UK has appointed former Volkswagen group sales and marketing director Gary Savage has been appointed as its new managing director.

New Mazda ad is adrenalin-driven

Tue, 1 Jun 2010

Mazda UK is launching a multimillion pound campaign for the Mazda MX-5 focusing on the thrill of extreme experience.

British Gas redesigns vans

Thu, 27 May 2010

British Gas has overhauled the design of its van fleet as part of a modernisation of the brand’s image.

Ford uses dual screens to target dads and kids

Mon, 24 May 2010

Ford is launching a dual screen digital outdoor campaign for its new 7-seat Galaxy model targeting dads while entertaining their kids.

Asda sparks petrol pump price war

Wed, 19 May 2010

Tesco and Asda are sparring over petrol prices as both supermarkets cut petrol prices.

Oil brands stay resilient as BP crisis continues

Tue, 18 May 2010

BP’s brand reputation crisis following the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has left rival petroleum companies relatively unscathed, according to YouGov BrandIndex data.

Ford uses Mumsnet to promote new cars

Thu, 13 May 2010

Ford is to carry out a series of advertising campagns on parenting community Mumsnet through 2010 to promote new family cars.

Suzuki to sponsor MTV Europe Music Awards

Thu, 6 May 2010

MTV Networks International has signed Suzuki as its latest pan-European sponsor for its annual Europe Music Awards (EMAs).

Holiday Autos ignites new brand campaign

Wed, 5 May 2010

Car hire broker Holiday Autos is launching its first UK brand campaign in over three years.

Charley Boorman to be face of Carole Nash insurance

Tue, 4 May 2010

Carole Nash, the UK and Ireland’s biggest motorcycle insurance specialist has signed up actor and motorbiking adventurer Charley Boorman as its new brand ambassador.

Renault promotes new models with reality TV contest

Thu, 29 Apr 2010

Renault is unveiling a digital and print advertising campaign to promote the launch of the new Mégane Coupé Cabriolet and Renault Wind coupé-roadster, by offering consumers the chance to become online reality TV stars.

Porsche appoints Bernhard Maier as board level marketer

Tue, 20 Apr 2010

Porsche has promoted Bernhard Maier to head up sales and marketing on the company’s board.

Halfords ad account up for grabs

Mon, 19 Apr 2010

Car accessory retailer Halfords is running a pitch for the advertising business for the recently acquired Nationwide Autocentres, which it will rebrand as Halfords Autocentres.

Kwik-Fit ad features Knight Rider car

Fri, 9 Apr 2010

Kwik-Fit’s latest television advertising campaign brings the Kwik-Fit fitters out of the service centre and features the KITT car from the television show Knight Rider.

Daimler, Renault and Nissan set to sign partnership deal

Wed, 7 Apr 2010

Renault and Nissan are to jointly take a 3.1% stake in Daimler and the German car maker will take a 3.1% stake in each of the other manufacturers’ businesses.

Renault ad banned for misleading claims

Wed, 31 Mar 2010

A Renault television advert promoting a range of zero emissions cars has been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

Mercedes-Benz appoints new customer services managing director

Fri, 26 Mar 2010

Mercedes-Benz UK has appointed its sales director Simon Oldfield to managing director customer services group.

Autoglass launches £10m TV push

Tue, 23 Mar 2010

Autoglass, the consumer automotive service brand, has appointed integrated agency Breakfast to create a £10m television campaign.

Ford of Europe marketing business folded into new WPP unit

Mon, 22 Mar 2010

Ford of Europe’s marketing business is to be consolidated into a new WPP Group unit called Blue Hive.

Fiat Professional unveils "whole new approach to marketing"

Fri, 12 Mar 2010

Fiat Professional is to unveil a new campaign focusing on a sitcom to promote its range of vehicles, which it claims will be the start of “a whole new approach to marketing.”

Honda unveils new campaign as it boosts agency roster

Thu, 11 Mar 2010

Honda has unveiled a new digital affiliate marketing campaign to promote its hybrid sports coupé, the CR-Z. The marque has also appointed Elvis to handle its pan-European direct marketing and digital advertising account after a pitch against undisclosed agencies.

Toyota refutes claims of faulty electronics problems

Tue, 9 Mar 2010

Toyota is continuing to protect its brand from any further damage by rejecting claims that faulty electronics are behind its worldwide recall of more than eight million cars.

Honda promotes marketers to Europe division under restructure

Fri, 5 Mar 2010

Honda UK is restructuring its marketing department ahead of David Hodgetts joining as its new managing director on 1 April.

Nissan plots integrated campaign for new Qashqai push

Fri, 5 Mar 2010

Nissan has unveiled the latest extension to its ‘Urbanproof’ saga advertising theme, with an integrated marketing campapign supporting the reveal of the new Nissan Qashqai.

Toyota UK recalls result in 1.8% fall in market share

Thu, 4 Mar 2010

Toyota’s UK market share only fell by 0.47% in February compared to the same time last year despite its nationwide recall crisis, according to the latest Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) figures.

Volvo campaign takes a "naughty" position

Wed, 3 Mar 2010

Volvo is running an integrated campaign under the banner “The Naughty Volvo” to promote its new S60 model, ahead of the completion of its sale to Chinese manufacturer Geely.

Saab promotes independence in new advertising push

Mon, 1 Mar 2010

Saab has been promoting its new ownership following its sale from General Motors with an “independence event” which concludes today.

Toyota launches new reassurance push

Tue, 23 Feb 2010

Toyota is continuing with its reassurance marketing push and has taken out a new series of full page newspaper adverts headlined “We’re pulling together to put things right.”

Toyota suspends production for two weeks after recall crisis

Fri, 19 Feb 2010

Toyota is to close one of its UK factories for an extra week over Easter, as the marque continues to feel the pressure from the global recall crisis.

Halfords expands its car service offering

Thu, 18 Feb 2010

Halfords has expanded its car servicing and repairs offering after buying Nationwide Autocentres for £732.2m.

BMW pushes 5 series in major outdoor campaign

Wed, 17 Feb 2010

BMW is running a three-week digital and poster outdoor campaign in London’s Holland Park Roundabout and selected premium shopping centres to promote its new BMW 5 series range.

Smart to launch new international brand campaign with hot dogs

Mon, 15 Feb 2010

Smart, the compact automotive manufacturer, is launching a new international brand campaign, called “surprisingly different time and again”, featuring dancing hot dogs.

Fiat hires Krow to run Fiat Professional ads

Thu, 11 Feb 2010

Fiat has appointed Krow to handle its £3.5m advertising business for the Fiat Professional division.

BMW adds Synergy and WCRS to its agency roster

Thu, 11 Feb 2010

BMW UK has appointed Synergy as its strategic sponsorship agency partner for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. WCRS has also won a global brief to handle the launch advertising for BMW’s upcoming 6-Series model.

Fiat to sponsor British Cycling

Tue, 9 Feb 2010

Fiat has signed up to become the official supplier to British Cycling, which includes the Great Britain Cycling and Para-Cycling Teams.

Toyota woes continue with global recall of Prius planned

Mon, 8 Feb 2010

Toyota is understood to be planning a global recall of the Prius range, its flagship hybrid model, following fears over the safety of brake pedals on the models. The news adds to consumer fears over the brand following last week’s recall of seven other models.

Toyota launches press reassurance campaign

Fri, 5 Feb 2010

Toyota has taken out a press campaign to reassure customers over its product recalls as it is hit with fresh safety concerns.

Toyota forced to hold back on new sales to settle recall crisis

Thu, 4 Feb 2010

Toyota is to halt deliveries of new cars in order to repair the defective accelerator pedals on certain models, which has resulted in a worldwide recall crisis.

Toyota faces further backlash from recall crisis

Wed, 3 Feb 2010

The backlash against Toyota’s car recall crisis is building across the world after the marque has been ordered by Japan’s Ministry of Transportation to investigate a rash of consumer complaints about braking problems.

Toyota moves to reassure consumers through YouTube

Tue, 2 Feb 2010

Toyota has used YouTube to deliver a message by Jim Lentz, president of Toyota’s US marketing, to reassure consumers over concerns surrounding the safety of its cars.

Honda unveils Channel 4 doc idents

Mon, 1 Feb 2010

Honda UK is launching a series of idents to support its sponsorship of all Channel 4 documentaries for the coming year.

Toyota launches recall campaign for faulty pedals

Mon, 1 Feb 2010

Toyota has launched a pan-European recall campaign in Europe for potential accelerator pedal issues in eight models. The campaign is being advertised in print titles and via digital communications.

Saab brand sold to Spyker but will remain in use

Wed, 27 Jan 2010

General Motors and Spyker Cars have confirmed that they have reached a binding agreement on the purchase of Saab Automobile, worth an estimated $400m (£248m). UK marketing assets will be included in the sale and are currently being negotiated.

Volvo Ocean Race names Miall as commercial director

Thu, 21 Jan 2010

Volvo Ocean Race, the round the world offshore sailing race, has recruited former Sport managing director Greg Miall as commercial director.

Car scrappage to become brand popularity contest in final month

Fri, 15 Jan 2010

A quota system based on brand popularity will be introduced to the car scrappage scheme for its final weeks, the government has confirmed.

Volkswagen to launch campaign for Transporter van

Wed, 13 Jan 2010

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is unveiling a new national advertising campaign to launch the new Volkswagen Transporter van.

UPDATE: F1’s Ecclestone bids for Saab as GM begins to wind down business

Fri, 8 Jan 2010

UPDATE: General Motors has begun the process to close Saab, but has said it will also continue efforts to find a buyer for the Swedish carmaker.Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has emerged as the latest bidder for Saab, as the Swedish car marque waits to hear of its fate.

General Motors retains Carat to £400m account

Thu, 7 Jan 2010

General Motors Europe has completed its strategic review of its media planning and buying and retained Carat as its agency of choice.

Ford close to selling Volvo brand

Wed, 23 Dec 2009

Ford has reportedly reached an agreement with China’s Geely to sell its Volvo unit.

Stihl re-signs as Superbike Championship sponsor

Mon, 21 Dec 2009

Outdoor power tool company Stihl GB has re-signed with commercial rights holder MotorSport Vision as an Official Sponsor of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship for the third consecutive year.

Saab brand to close

Fri, 18 Dec 2009

General Motors is to fold the Saab brand after it failed to sell the Swedish car brand.

Seat to sponsor Shakira tour

Thu, 17 Dec 2009

Car manufacturer Seat has become the official sponsor of popstar Shakira’s forthcoming European tour to promote her latest album She Wolf.

Renault extends contract with Publicis Groupe

Wed, 16 Dec 2009

Renault has extended its advertising contract with Publicis Groupe for a further three years.

Honda launches new cinematic ad

Tue, 15 Dec 2009

Honda is launching a new ad campaign called Everything, which will break during screenings of blockbuster movie Avatar.

Part of Saab sold to Chinese firm

Mon, 14 Dec 2009

General Motors has confirmed it has sold components of Saab to China’s Beijing Automotive Industry Holdings (BAIC).

Renault to stay in F1

Fri, 11 Dec 2009

Renault is expected to stay in Formula 1 next year, despite being shrouded by controversy through most of the last campaign.

Fiat moves £20m UK media account to Maxus

Wed, 9 Dec 2009

Fiat has moved its £20m UK media planning and buying account, handing it to WPP agency Maxus as part of its global realignment.

VW to buy 20% stake in Suzuki

Wed, 9 Dec 2009

Volkswagen is to buy a 20% stake in Japan’s Suzuki Motor for 222.5bn yen ($2.5bn; £1.5bn) as it continues to bid to increase its group size.

Volkswagen takes 49% stake in Porsche

Tue, 8 Dec 2009

Volkswagen has completed an agreement to take a 49.9% stake in Porsche AG, clearing the way for the two brands to merge and former an integrated company.

General Motors appoints new European president

Fri, 4 Dec 2009

Vauxhall’s former managing director Nick Reilly has been named as the new president of General Motors Europe.

Peugeot eyes stake in Mitsubishi

Fri, 4 Dec 2009

PSA Peugeot Citroen has confirmed it is looking to buy a stake in Mitsubishi Motors in a move that would pitch it directly against rival Volkswagen, it has been reported.

BMW calls agencies pitch

Thu, 3 Dec 2009

BMW is reviewing its UK advertising, digital and direct marketing agency requirements.

Audi plans centenary marketing push

Wed, 2 Dec 2009

Audi is looking to boost global interest in its brand with a marketing campaign celebrating the company’s 100th anniversary.

Kia Motors to sponsor hit Sky TV shows Lost and 24

03 December 2009

Kia Motors is to be the new sponsor of Sky’s lynchpin series Lost and 24 to promote its new models Kia Venga and Kia Cee’d.

Honda launches pan-European digital campaign

Fri, 27 Nov 2009

Honda is launching a digital campaign to support the launch of its new motorcycle.

Britax appoints St Luke’s

Thu, 19 Nov 2009

Britax Excelsior, Britain’s largest children’s car seat maker, has appointed St. Luke’s Communications to launch an advertising strategy to “reinvigorate” the brand.

Mercedes buys Brawn GP F1 team

Mon, 16 Nov 2009

The car maker has taken a 75.1% stake in Brawn, which will be rebranded as the Mercedes GP team from next season.

Auto Trader consolidates £10m media account

Thu, 12 Nov 2009

Auto Trader, part-owned by Guardian Media Group, has overhauled its £10m media planning and buying business to consolidate the account into a combined team from Aegis Media’s Carat and Diffiniti.

DoT launches climate change campaign

Mon, 9 Nov 2009

The Department for Transport has today (9 November) launched an advertising campaign aimed at reducing CO2 emissions from car use.

General Motors reverses Opel/Vauxhall sale

Wed, 4 Nov 2009

General Motors has reversed its decision to sell its Vauxhall/Opel brand in Europe to Canadian group Magna International and its partners.

Bridgestone to end F1 deal

Mon, 2 Nov 2009

Bridgestone Motorsport is to pull-out of Formula 1 at the end of the next season to cut costs.

TW Steel partners with Renault F1

Wed, 28 Oct 2009

TW Steel, the Dutch watch firm, has become the first brand to sign a sponsorship deal with Renault F1 since the team was involved in the race-fixing scandal.

Aston Martin creates global sales role

Tue, 13 Oct 2009

Aston Martin has appointed former Harley Davidson marketer Michael van der Sande into the new role of chief commercial officer in a bid to drive global sales.

Audi drops Sky TV channel to focus on video content site

Wed, 7 Oct 2009

Audi has axed its Sky TV channel to focus exclusively on distributing video content online.

Industry bodies rally for more car scrappage funding

Mon, 28 Sep 2009

The government is coming under increasing pressure from industry bodies to extend its car scrappage scheme, with the CBI, the EEF and the Automobile Association lobbying for more funding.

UK car manufacture drops by nearly a third

Fri, 25 Sep 2009

The number of new cars built in the UK dropped 31.5% in August but this is the smallest fall in 56-months and has been secured as a result of the car scrappage scheme.

ING “hugely disappointed” by Renault ban

Thu, 24 Sep 2009

ING, the primary sponsor of the Result F1 team, is “hugely disappointed” over the “crashgate” scandal involving the team.

Mercedes allocates half its UK marketing budget to digital

Wed, 23 Sep 2009

Mercedes-Benz is now allocating 50% of its UK marketing budget to digital media, according to its VP for brand communications, Anders Sundt Jensen.

Peugeot prepares cosmetic surgery themed DM pack

Thu, 17 Sep 2009

Peugeot has developed a direct mail pack wrapped in bandages to promote the “cosmetic enhancements” made to its 207 range.

Renault appoints former VW marketer

Fri, 11 Sep 2009

Renault UK has hired former Volkswagen marketer Chris Hawken, as marketing communications manager to oversee brand marketing.

Sky axes motoring site

Wed, 9 Sep 2009

Sky is to close its Sky Motoring site as it continues to focus on core traffic-generating sites.

Seat sings up as lead sponsor for Europa League

Tue, 8 Sep 2009

Seat is to be the main sponsor of the new Europa League after signing a three-year deal.

Nissan launches campaign through Yahoo!

Wed, 2 Sep 2009

Nissan has this week launched an integrated pan-European mobile online ad campaign aimed at pushing the automaker’s “Simplicity” positioning.

Toyota in direct marketing drive

Fri, 21 Aug 2009

Toyota is launching a direct mail campaign to promote its models with optimal drive as standard, and encourage potential car buyers to test drive the cars.

VW Golf ad focuses on classic values

Fri, 14 Aug 2009

Volkswagen is launching a new television ad for its Golf marquee that sees return to communicating the classic values of the car, rather than the fantasy approach of recent campaigns like the controversial “Fight” campaign

Car scrappage scheme reaches halfway mark

Tue, 11 Aug 2009

More than 154,000 cars have been bought through the government’s scrappage scheme, with more than half the money set aside to fund the initiative already spent.

Mass market electric cars from Nissan split opinion

13 August 2009

Consumers are still largely divided over whether or not to buy an electric car, according to Marketing Week’s latest online poll.

Toyota and BMW hit by global sales slump

Tue, 4 Aug 2009

Carmakers Toyota and BMW have been hit by the slump in global car sales, both posting losses in the three months to the end of June.

BMW to quit F1

Wed, 29 Jul 2009

BMW has confirmed it will pull out of Formula 1 at the end of this season because the sport does not fit in with its sustainability positioning.

Kia to launch raft of green-friendly cars

Mon, 27 Jul 2009

Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group is planning to launch a raft of eco-friendly Kia vehicles in Europe as part of a £2bn investment in “green growth”.

Ford manages Q2 profit rise despite tough market

Thu, 23 Jul 2009

Ford, the US carmaker, has managed to return a $2.26bn (£1.37bn) profit in the second quarter of the year, while its rivals have been forced into bankruptcy.

Honda promotes tie-up with charity

Wed, 22 Jul 2009

Honda is launching a campaign to push its partnership with Do-it.org.uk, the charity that aims to encourage people to volunteer for projects.

GM awards McCann Erickson £70m Astra account

Tue, 21 Jul 2009

General Motors has awarded McCann Erickson Frankfurt the £70m pan-European ad account to launch its latest Astra model.

Lexus to launch ‘21 second test drive’

Fri, 17 Jul 2009

Lexus, the Toyota-owned marque, is launching a direct and digital marketing campaign to promote the new Lexus convertible model available this month.

Renault UK appoints new marketer

Tue, 14 Jul 2009

Renault UK has hired Phil York as its new marketing director replacing Emmanuel Bouvier who is moving to a new post within the car company.

Rolls-Royce hires former Volkswagen marketer

Tue, 14 Jul 2009

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars UK has recruited former Volkswagen South African sales and marketing director Jolyon Nash to take the same role.

Castrol drafts BP retail director

Wed, 8 Jul 2009

Castrol, the motor oil company, has appointed former BP director Chris Sedgwick as marketing director for UK and Ireland.

British Rally Championship on look-out for title sponsor

09 July 2009

Training ground for world rally champions seeks partner following Tesco’s decision not to renew its deal with the BRC for the 2010 season

Williams F1 seeks more partners

Mon, 6 Jul 2009

Williams Formula 1 is looking for agencies to help promote its museum and to explore new sponsorship opportunities.

Government considers role in Vauxhall bail out

Fri, 3 Jul 2009

The Government says it would consider underwriting the planned takeover of General Motors’ European operations in a bid to save jobs in the UK’s Vauxhall plants.

AA reviews direct marketing account

Thu, 2 Jul 2009

The AA, a leader in the roadside assistance market, is reviewing its DM account and is believed to be considering a boost in its advertising activity.

VW claims commercial range is sound investment

02 July 2009

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is launching a marketing campaign as part of a strategy that aims to reposition its vehicles as sound investments.

In'n'Out appoints marketing agency

Wed, 24 Jun 2009

Car servicing chain IN’n’OUT has appointed integrated agency Kitcatt Nohr Alexander Shaw as its first agency of record to help drive its UK expansion plans.

Drive to promote Volkswagen lifestyle vehicles

Tue, 16 Jun 2009

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is launching a nationwide integrated campaign to promote its range of lifestyle vehicles.

Hertz opens vehicle rental market to teenagers

11 June 2009

Hertz is to launch a new product targeting students as part of a strategy to drive brand loyalty among young drivers.

Kia drafts Toyota sales director as MD

Thu, 4 Jun 2009

Kia Motors UK has appointed Toyota GB sales director, Michael Cole, to the role of managing director.

Magna to acquire Opel as fears mount over UK jobs

Mon, 1 Jun 2009

General Motors is today (June 1) expected to file for bankruptcy, while the German Government is set to agree a deal for Magna International to takeover its European arm.

Understanding consumers in the recession

Thu, 23 Apr 2009

For advertisers to survive the recession and start planning for when consumers regain the confidence to spend again, they need to understand people’s fears and priorities. Joe Fernandez explores insights from Arena BLM’s ‘Crunchonomics’ research

CMW offers Peugeot drivers a 308 CC experience

Thu, 16 Apr 2009

Peugeot is launching a direct marketing campaign to support the launch of its new luxury model.

Jaguar Land Rover warns on more job cuts

Wed, 25 Mar 2009

Jaguar Land Rover has warned that it will need to make further job cuts unless the British government provides financial aid to the marques.

Kitcatt Nohr scoops Toyota DM business

Thu, 29 Jan 2009

Toyota GB has appointed Kitcatt Nohr to handle its direct marketing account. The agency will take on all customer acquisition and retention activity with a particular focus on cultivating new customers, with a unified team working across Toyota and sister marque Lexus, which it took on last summer.