Hyundai pushing dealers upmarket abroad originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We say BMW, you say... originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 May 2008 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Survey: Bring back Oldsmobile, Studebaker originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Lexus brand isn't flying in Toyota's home market originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 22 Mar 2008 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Kelley Blue Book hands out 2008 Brand Image Awards

Kelley Blue Book hands out 2008 Brand Image Awards originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Jeep ready to paint your house red originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Sep 2007 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

BMW is expected to release its new corporate strategy later this year, and when it does, it might include expanding to swallow up some more brands. What those brands might be has not been revealed, although reports indicate that the Bavarian automaker could be looking to take over Volvo cars from Ford's rapidly disintegrating Premium Auto Group, which has also recently shed Aston Martin and may be prepared to offload Jaguar and Land Rover, as well.

Munich has had varied success with expanding its family tree. It's had seven years to recuperate from the Rover Group fiasco, and would evidently be hoping for more success along the lines of its MINI and Rolls Royce ventures.

[Source: Börsen-Zeitung via Motor Authority]

Does BMW want more babies? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Jul 2007 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Do you know where babies cars come from? Anderson Analytics took a survey of 1,000 college students from more than 375 universities and discovered that many of them don't. A third of the respondents thought Lexus was American. More than half of them thought Hyundai was Japanese, and at the same time, two-thirds of them think Korean products are no good. Almost half thought Volvo and Saab were German, and more than half thought Land Rover is American. Which, technically, it is, but probably not in the way they meant it.

The survey, carried out last summer, was actually a study of country-of-origin on brand perception. Carmakers weren't the only ones to suffer from "They don't make that here?" syndrome. Almost no one knew that Nokia is Finnish, and almost everyone thought that Motorola's Japanese. But country origin doesn't have the same effect on brand perception for cell phones that it does on cars. However, how important can it be to make sure people know your car is Swedish if those people can't point Sweden out on a map? Just make sure they don't think it's Korean.

[Source: Carscoop]

These kids today: college students think Volvo is German and Land Rover is American... originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 27 May 2007 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Bandwagons are for jumping on, and this one's carrying laptop computers branded by automakers. Ferrari's was among the first, then Lamborghini jumped on board, and more recently we've seen Koenigsegg and Maybach follow suit. Not to be left out, reports are surfacing that BMW has teamed up with Acer to offer its own range of branded notebook computers.

The partnership seems to be an odd choice, since Acer produces laptops for Ferrari and sponsors their racing team. Reports suggest, however, that the BMW computers will be slotted in below their Ferrari counterparts and sell at lower price points. Based on Acer's Aspire series, the BMW versions will feature extra design features, for which Acer insists the customer will pay no premium.

Buyers will have the choice of Intel Santa Rosa or AMD processors and an optional HD-DVD drive, and the laptops will come complete with all the bells and whistles including 17-inch widescreens, WiFi, surround sound, and HDMI. Instead of offering one or two different models, the information points to a whole range of BMW-Acers that could include as many as 40 different model configurations.

[Source: Engadget]

BMW gets in on the laptop action with Acer originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 May 2007 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It's been a period of big changes for Fiat's commercial truck division recently. First the brand gained independent incorporation in the restructuring of the Fiat Group, and now the division is getting a new name and image. What was incorporated just a few months ago as Fiat Light Commercial Vehicles is now being re-named Fiat Professional.

Along with the more serious moniker, Fiat Professional is getting a new badge. The logo pictured above is based on the Fiat badge revealed on the new Bravo, spruced up for the commercial division by Robilant Associati, the same marketing consultants that collaborated with the Italian industrial giant on the creation of the new Fiat logo revealed last October.

The name change and new logo aren't likely to change anything concrete for Fiat's light truck and van division, aside from giving it a more professional image with which to stand up to the competition. Nor is the image shift expected to have any implications for Iveco, Fiat's more heavy-duty truck subsidiary.

[Source: Just Autos]

Fiat Light Commercial Vehicles goes Professional originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Apr 2007 07:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Hyundai's product line-up has been both steadily improving and moving up-market, first with the launch of the Veracruz luxury SUV and now with the announcement of the upcoming Genesis RWD V8 luxury sedan. The emergence of the premium Hyundais has lead to industry speculation that the burgeoning Korean carmaker could be considering the launch of a separate premium brand to compete with its Japanese rivals.

Although they've far from confirmed any such decision, Hyundai execs have suggested it could be in the cards. Product planning VP John Krafcik was quoted as saying, "We haven't decided that as of yet. Genesis will be sold through our Hyundai dealers as a Hyundai, but we're still in the midst of discussions as to whether or not we should have an alternative distribution channel with a new name. It's still a possibility."

Like Toyota did with Lexus, Nissan with Infiniti and Honda with Acura, a premium marque from Hyundai would give the Korean carmaker the prestige and justification for the higher prices that inevitably come with producing up-market products. While Japan remains on alert from nuclear weapons from North Korea, the real bomb seems to be coming in automotive form from South Korea.

[Source: Winding Road]

Watch out, Lexus: Hyundai considering premium brand originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Apr 2007 07:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Having unique character might be good for enthusiasts, but it's not so good for the bottom line, and Martin Winterkorn is more concerned about the latter. That's why the CEO of Volkswagen AG is planning on remaking its struggling Seat brand in a new mold.

Although not offered in the North American market, overseas buyers know Seat by the "auto emocion" moniker, positioning the Spanish carmaker as the group's sportier subsidiary offering more aggressive-looking models compared to the more traditional images of the Volkswagen and Skoda divisions (Hmm, sounds like the European version of Pontiac). Unfortunately, that strategy hasn't seemed to pay off for Seat, and to keep it in the black, Winterkorn is ordering a change of strategy that involves appealing to a wider customer base and cutting ten percent of its workforce.

We can't help but wonder what Seat will have to offer if it's brand image is tossed aside. But treading on each other's turf seems to be the strategy du jour at Volkswagen group, where VWs go upmarket to compete with Audis and the corporate structure includes three ultra-premium brands. Whether Winterkorn's strategy pays off remains to be seen.

[Source: Just-Auto]

New strategy for Seat appeals to wider base originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Mar 2007 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

SAIC launching new brand without Rover name originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Oct 2006 19:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Is Camry the new 'old folks' car? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Mar 2006 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Editorial: Will DCX's move taking Jeep 'out of the woods' dilute the brand?

Editorial: Will DCX's move taking Jeep 'out of the woods' dilute the brand? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Mar 2006 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.